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U.K. aircraft get $160 million missile-defense gear
The package would help protect Royal Air Force aircraft from infrared-guided missiles. Boeing would supply Guardian Laser Turret Assemblies, laser countermeasure parts, sensors, test gear and support.
A federal Defense Department notice published June 17 says the Pentagon is releasing the unclassified text of a proposed arms sale to the United Kingdom. The package is valued at $160 million and is built around equipment meant to defend large aircraft from infrared-guided surface-to-air missiles.
Effective date: June 12, 2026
It includes 36 Guardian Laser Turret Assemblies, 18 Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures, or LAIRCM, processor replacements, plus missile-warning sensors, test equipment, spare parts and logistics support.
How the shield works
The system is designed to spot a missile and jam it with laser energy before it can hit a plane. That makes it a survival tool for aircraft flying where the threat can come from the ground, not just from the air.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency says the sale would help the Royal Air Force keep its large air mobility platforms ready and would not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor would be Boeing, based in Arlington, Virginia.
Agency: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense (DoD) Docket ID: 2026-12128 CFR parts: 36(b)(1) Effective date: June 12, 2026 Contact: Urooj Zahra • (703) 695-6233 • urooj.zahra.civ@mail.mil