- £270 million contract awarded to BAE Systems to support,
upgrade, and maintain critical radars.
- Contract secures 400 jobs across the UK and boosts investment
in the UK supply chain of SME and high-tech suppliers.
- Radars are a key defensive capability to the Royal Navy used
to identify and track potential airborne and seaborne threats.
Critical radars that protect the Royal Navy’s fleet of warships
against hostile airborne and seaborne attacks will be upgraded
and maintained under a deal worth £270 million.
The 10-year contract, which has been awarded to BAE Systems to
run until 2032, will support Artisan, Sampson and Long-Range
Radars which are found on warships including Type 23 and Type 26
frigates, Type 45 destroyers, and the Queen Elizabeth Class
Aircraft Carriers.
As well as securing 400 highly skilled jobs in Cowes, Portsmouth,
Essex and in Hillend near Edinburgh, the contract, which includes
upgrading existing radars as well as maintenance and other
in-service support, ensures the UK retains the highly-specialist
skills required for a sovereign option in future radar
development.
Minister for Defence Procurement, said:
Equipping our Armed Forces with the latest technology to counter
emerging threats is critical to ensuring the safety and
effectiveness of our fleet and personnel.
Securing hundreds of jobs across the country, this contract is a
boost for the UK Supply Chain and lets our adversaries know we
are equipped, prepared and ready.
Supporting the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy this
contract secures hundreds of jobs and provides a boost to the
wider UK supply chain by allowing BAE Systems to create new
support roles in engineering and project management including
further investment in the UK supply chain of SME and high-tech
suppliers.
Cdre , Director Ships Support at
DE&S, said:
This is an excellent outcome for Defence and our industry
partners, supporting vital highly skilled UK jobs to underwrite
the future of state-of-the-art British naval radar technology.
These systems give the Royal Navy the battle-winning edge it
needs to protect and defend our nation.
The radars provide a key defensive capability to the Royal Navy
at sea and are used to identify and track potential airborne and
seaborne threats.
Rear Admiral James Parkin CBE, Director Develop at Navy
HQ said:
By combining the support of our existing maritime complex radars,
the Royal Navy will be better able to adapt to technological
change and our ships will be able to respond faster to developing
operational threats. This system of systems approach being taken
by BAE Systems aligns with our own approach to sensor development
and will maintain our status as one of the world’s leading
maritime forces.
Scott Jamieson, Managing Director of BAE Systems’
Maritime Services business, said:
This is a pivotal moment for UK radar technology development.
This contract secures a decade of investment into a critical
capability for the UK armed forces. It also allows us to evolve
future radar technology with the MOD to sustain maritime air
dominance and vital radar development skills and experience in
the UK.
