Historic RAF Rapier air defence system placed on loan at Newark Air Museum
A Nottinghamshire museum recently took delivery of a de-activated, historic, missile defence system that will form a display unique from any other museum in the country.
Newark Air Museum has entered into an agreement with MBDA UK Limited to accept on loan what is believed to be the only complete example of the company’s famous Rapier Field Standard C (FSC) Ground Based Air Defence system.
The acquisition comes as part of the museum's wider collecting policy of displaying equipment used for the maintenance of aircraft and for the running of airfields.
The Rapier Field Standard C System will be displayed in the covered area of hangar two. It will join and complement similar displays in the hangar such as an existing RAF Regiment display, as well as the recently opened RAF Explosive Ordnance Disposal display.
“We are excited and extremely proud to have secured the loan of such a unique set of objects for the collection,” said museum curator Mike Smith.
“We are especially grateful for the assistance provided by the staff at MBDA, in helping us to establish this loan agreement and to complete the safe move of this Rapier Field Standard C System to Newark.”
The Rapier systems entered service in 1971, with some still defending military assets around the world today.
The defence system has even made a few famous appearances, such as being used to help protect the 2012 London Olympics, and made a brief on screen Hollywood appearance in the 2014 film Kingsmen: The Secret Service.
Retired RAF Air Commodore and now advisor at MBDA, Al Byford, said:“We are proud of our heritage of producing equipment for our Armed Forces that protected our troops, airfields and the UK”
“Equipment such as this Rapier FSC is of historical military significance and it is only right we share it with Newark Air Museum, so those that are interested in such piece of RAF history can visit and see it preserved.”
MBDA is a European defence group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces.
