Babcock opens facility to aid UK MOD marine systems support contract

UK-based infrastructure firm Babcock has opened a facility in Portsmouth to assist the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) marine systems support partner (MSSP) contract.

The new office is located close to the home of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet. The opening coincides with the first anniversary of the five-year MSSP contract.

Royal Navy Naval Support director Matt Harrison said: “This dedicated MSSP facility offers a collaborative environment where the critical delivery aspects of MSSP can be brought to life. The opening is the culmination of the team’s work over the past year and marks how far we have come.”

Marine systems support contracts are part of a £1bn Common Support Model (CSM) of the UK MOD. The scope of the CSM involves providing a framework for comprehensive support across the entire Navy fleet of warships.

Babcock Defence Systems Technology business support director Alex Brown added: “By bringing together the best of industry in this new approach to supporting the Royal Navy, and putting the Royal Navy maintainers at the heart of the solution, we are already delivering effective results and I am confident about the future.”

In 2017, Babcock was selected as the MSSP for two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and six Type 45 destroyers.

Under the MSSP, four contracts valued at £320m were awarded to the company for spares, repairs and technical services for the aforementioned vessels.

Recently, HMS Queen Elizabeth completed fixed-wing flying trials in the US with the new F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft.