UK Scraps Fire Shadow Loitering Munitions Program Incurring Loss of $148 Million
The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense (MoD) has formally cancelled its Fire Shadow loitering munitions weapons system project at a loss of £95 million ($148 million).
The project was abandoned according to the ministry’s 2017-18 annual accounts published on the MoD’s website on last Friday.
MBDA was the lead contractor along with team LM comprising Blue Bear Systems Research, Cranfield Aerospace, Cranfield University, Lockheed Martin UK INSYS, Marshalls SV, Meggitt, QinetiQ, Roxel, Selex SAS, Thales UK, Ultra Electronics and VEGA were part of the project.
The Fire Shadow is designed to loiter above the battlefield with an endurance of up to six hours before attacking stationary or mobile targets. It was estimated to cost an approximate £200 million for Phase 1 of the program including concept, assessment, demonstration and initial manufacture.
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