The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a contract to BAE Systems to support and maintain the new combat system deployed across the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet.
Under the £46m design services arrangement contract, BAE Systems will provide support services that will maintain and develop the new common combat system for the next ten years.
The contract will support deployment of common combat system across the entire existing and future Royal Navy submarines, while providing significant costs benefits associated to training, maintenance and upgrading.
Capable of assisting in navigating vessels, the new combat system will be used to collect intelligence data and also provide defence against enemy threats.
A total of ten submarines are currently in service with the navy, which include one BAE-built Astute-class nuclear-powered attack vessels; five Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering-built Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered attack subs and four Vanguard-class submarines.
UK Defence, Equipment, Support and Technology Minister Philip Dunne said that the recent contract would enable the submarine fleet to continue protecting and conducting nation’s interest both at home and abroad.
"This latest commitment to maintain and develop this vital technology throughout the fleet will ensure that we can continue delivering first class capability for many years to come," Dunne added.
UK MoD Submarines director rear admiral Simon Lister said: "Command systems onboard our submarines contain many vital technologies and it is very important that our submarines retain their technological edge, both now and in the future."
Work will be carried out at the company’s facility in Surrey and Dorset, England.
Image: HMS Astute’s control room. Photo: courtesy of BAE Systems.
