BUSINESS is booming for Bolton-based missile firm MBDA which has secured another multi-million pound contract with the Ministry of Defence to upgrade the Royal Air Force’s long range missile which have been used in the fight against the so called Islamic State.

The £146 million contract will sustain around 60 jobs at the base in Bolton and Stevenage.

A spokesman for MDBA said: “The MoD investment in this major program is quite important and will sustain around 60 jobs in the UK and 40 in the whole supply chain.

“The brand-new Bolton facility will participate in some parts of the program.”

Harriet Baldwin, Minister for Defence Procurement announced the contract with MBDA to regeneration to regenerate an air-launched missile, alongside her French counterpart Laurent Collet-Billon.

The shared deal with MDBA will see the UK’s Storm Shadow and France’s SCALP missiles updated so they remain fit for purpose and ready for operational use.

Storm Shadow is described as a combat-proven, long-range, precision cruise missile, already in service with RAF Tornados, deployed recently against Daesh in Iraq.

The contract will keep the missile in service for the next decade and beyond.

Ms Baldwin said: “Storm Shadow is a proven and vital missile for the RAF, and this £146 million upgrade will ensure it is always ready for whenever our Armed Forces might need it to defend our way of life.

“This contract is an important part of the Government’s £178 billion plan to ensure our armed forces have the right equipment at the right time.”

The regeneration will consist of a midlife refurbishment of current missile parts such as the turbo-jet engine, an upgrade of the navigational system, and a like for like replacement of items such as the cabling, seals and gaskets.

The work will sustain around 60 jobs at MBDA in Stevenage and Bolton, in a variety of roles including software and systems engineering. Over 40 jobs will also be sustained through the supply chain.

Chief Executive at the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support Organisation, Tony Douglas said: “The contract to regenerate Storm Shadow, a combat-proven, all-weather precision missile, provides a clear example of the MOD and UK industry working effectively together with our counter parts in France; providing our UK Armed Forces with the best equipment possible while sustaining dozens of UK jobs.”

Storm Shadow is designed to target substantial buildings and structures, such as military facilities, control centres, bunkers, missile sites, airfields and bridges, which might otherwise require the use of several aircraft over the course of numerous missions.

In August last year Ms Baldwin visited the missile firm’s headquarters to announced it had landed the £184 million contract to ensure the UK’s new supersonic stealth combat aircraft will continue to be equipped with the latest air-to-air missile.