London: Britain's Royal Navy is building a new defence system that would be able to intercept enemy missiles travelling at supersonic speeds.
The Sea Ceptor missiles fired from navy warships can reach speeds of up to Mach 3 -- more than 3,200 km per hour -- and can protect an area of around 1,300 square km over land or sea, Sky News reported.
The missiles will initially be used on the navy's Type 23 frigates.
"This new weapon system will equip our frigates to deal with the type of sophisticated missile threat expected in the coming decades," said navy chief Admiral Mark Stanhope.
A contract worth 483 million pounds ($760 million) to develop the Sea Ceptor system has been awarded to MBDA, reportedly the world's second-largest arms manufacturer after Raytheon.
The five-year project would also offer 500 new jobs across the country, the ministry of defence said.
IANS
First Published: Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 00:46