The British Ministry of Defense said in a statement that the Sea Viper air defense system will be upgraded with new warhead missiles and software updates that will enable it to counter ballistic missile threats.

The contracts were awarded to the UK division of MBDA, a missile joint venture owned by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

“As the situation in the Middle East worsens, it is vital that we adapt to keep the UK, our allies and partners safe,” said UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.

US and British naval forces in the Red Sea shot down drones and missiles fired by the Houthi movement this month as the conflict between Israel and Hamas spilled over into the wider region.

Attacks by Houthi militias on ships in and around the Red Sea since November have slowed trade between Asia and Europe.

The US carried out fresh strikes against Houthi anti-ship missiles on Thursday, as the Red Sea crisis continues to choke supplies and could cause inflation globally.

Mai Van (according to Reuters)