Britain's Ministry of Defense has contracted Thales UK to demonstrate and manufacture the Future Anti Surface Guided Weapon (Light) system for helicopters.

The system, for use aboard Royal Navy Wildcats, is comprised of a five-barrel missile launcher and laser guidance system for use with Thales' Lightweight Multirole Missile, or LMM, for use against small boats and inshore attack craft.

The contract carries a value of nearly $85 million.

Thales' LMM can be fired from a variety of land, sea and airborne and will give the Royal Navy a versatile, rapidly-deployable capability, the company said.

The launcher and guidance system will be produced at a company facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

"This contract is great news for Thales and Northern Ireland," said Minister of Defense Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne. "The 60 jobs sustained (at the Belfast plant) represent experts in advanced weapons system design and manufacturing, and I am pleased that a similar number of jobs will be sustained throughout the program's supply chain.

"I want to give the Armed Forces the battle-winning equipment they deserve, and this highly complex weapon system will provide Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters with unparalleled strike capabilities."

The Royal Navy's AW159 Wildcat helicopter is produced by AgustaWestland.