The super fast Starstreak High Velocity Missile (HVM) system used by the British Army and Royal Marines is to get a new lease on life for the next 13 years thanks to a GBP200 million (US$278.8 million) contact with Thales UK, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated.

The contract was announced by Quentin Davies, minister for defence equipment and support.

The Starstreak HVM is a close air defense system with an advanced laser-guided weapon that flies at more than three times the speed of sound and is designed to counter threats from very-high-performance, low-flying aircraft and fast pop-up strikes by helicopter attacks.

The HVM can be fired from the shoulder, from a lightweight multiple launcher or from the Stormer armored vehicle.

"This is an important contract with Thales UK as it ensures the availability of the High Velocity Missile, a crucial weapon system for the armed forces, Davies said.

"Through this … contract we are sustaining technologies in the UK industry that are important for our future defense needs and sustaining up to 100 vital jobs over the next decade. I am committed to providing our armed forces with the best possible equipment to deal with a wide range of potential operations."

"This support arrangement will reduce the cost of ownership of HVM while also providing the ability to transition from peacetime to planned or unplanned operations," said Rear Adm. Amjad Hussain, director general weapons, defence equipment & support.

"Air Defence Availability Project (ADAPT) is fully consistent with the wider MoD initiative for the Complex Weapons (CW) sector and we are pleased to be entering into a long term arrangement with one of our Team Complex Weapons players"

Thales UK, based at Belfast in Northern Ireland, makes the weapons in a high-tech plant that employs over 500 people. Some 50-100 jobs are expected to be sustained by this contract over the next decade helping them to retain their expertise in the complex weapons arena.