During the next five years, Royal Navy ships will undergo a
series of technical upgrades to their Magazine Torpedo Launch
Systems and threat countermeasure capabilities, the latter of
which will help ensure the ships continue to counter the threat
of hostile anti-ship missiles.
The contract was award to Systems Engineering & Assessment
(SEA) in Devon.
Sustaining 150 UK jobs across Barnstaple, Beckington and Bristol
in the south west of England, the upgrades will ensure that
critical systems on Type 23 frigates continue to operate
reliably, and that upgrades can be seamlessly adopted and
installed until their out of service dates.
The Type-23 frigate carries out a wide variety of operations,
including securing the UK’s vital maritime trade routes East of
the Suez Canal and safeguarding British interests in the South
Atlantic. This week the Royal Navy deployed HMS Somerset to play
a leading role in protecting critical energy infrastructure,
working with Norway and our allies in the North and Norwegian
Seas.
Minister for Defence Procurement, , said:
These crucial upgrades will help to ensure our Royal Navy ships
remain equipped with the latest counter-threat capability.
Supporting 150 jobs at sites across the UK, this contract is
another example of how we are investing in the future, sustaining
UK jobs and securing cutting-edge defence capabilities.
Type 23 frigates will have electronic upgrades to Seagnat, a
system which safeguards the vessel against incoming missiles by
firing a variety of decoys to defeat incoming missiles.
Some ships will also undergo a further technical upgrade to their
Magazine Torpedo Launch Systems – a close range, quick reaction
Anti-Submarine weapon system which launches torpedoes from tubes
mounted in the vessel’s magazine.
The contract was placed by the Maritime Equipment and Warfare
(MEWT) team at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the
procurement arm of the UK Ministry of Defence.
DE&S’ Director Ships Support Rear Admiral Jim
Higham:
I’m incredibly proud of our team which has worked so hard to
place this contract, ensuring Type 23 has the battle-winning
capability it needs to perform their critical role in the Royal
Navy fleet now and into the future.
In addition to Type 23 updates, the contract will also upgrade
Seagnat systems during the next five years on Type 45 destroyers
and Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) tankers, which provide fuel,
food, fresh water, ammunition and other supplies to Royal Navy
vessels around the world.
The contract also secures five further years of support for the
systems on board the vessels with improved provision for spares.
The equipment supported under this contract (Magazine Torpedo
Launch Systems, Seagnat and Air Weapons Handling) are used on
various ships in the Royal Navy such as Type 23 frigates, Type 45
destroyers, Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC), Royal Fleet Auxiliary
vessels and Albion-class Landing Platform Docks.
Richard Flitton, Managing Director at Systems Engineering
& Assessment said:
This major contract, SEA’s largest to date, demonstrates the
systems knowledge and maritime domain expertise within our
UK-based team and builds on our long-standing partnership with
the Royal Navy.
