Ultra Electronics’ Command and Sonar Systems sonobuoy facility has secured a contract extension for the delivery and production of sonobuoys for the UK Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk2 maritime patrol helicopter fleet.

Based in Greenford, Middlesex, UK, the Command and Sonar Systems sonobuoy facility was awarded the initial contract in 2015 to deliver sonobuoys for the UK’s Merlin Mk2 helicopter.

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The £9.7m contract extension will enable the UK Navy to continue to maintain a persistent anti-submarine warfare surveillance capability against hostile submarines.

"Ultra is delighted to have secured an extension to this important contract."

The extension will also allow Ultra Electronics to facilitate future technology capability insertion as well as international collaboration.

Ultra Electronics chief executive Rakesh Sharma said: “Ultra is delighted to have secured an extension to this important contract.

“Our long-standing partnership with the Merlin project team has allowed us to sustain and further develop the nation’s airborne anti-submarine warfare capability, preserving a key battle-winning advantage for UK armed forces.”

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A sonobuoy can either be dropped or ejected from aircraft or ships that conduct anti-submarine warfare or underwater acoustic research.

Earlier, Ultra Electronics secured a $34.6m contract to continue delivering cyber-secure critical infrastructure solutions to the US Navy.

Initial tasks worth $13.9m of the cost-plus-fixed-fee contract are expected to be completed by September this year.

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