Philip Dunne News

The Aircraft Carrier Alliance successfully lifted one of the final sections of the second Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier in Rosyth on Friday, January 8 following its arrival from Glasgow. The 750-metric-ton block was raised 25 meters in the air using the Goliath crane and placed on the deck of HMS Prince of Wales, bringing assembly work on the ship significantly closer to completion. This section to be assembled is known as the Aft Island and will control aircraft operations aboard HMS Prince of Wales.

The final section of aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales began its delivery voyage from Glasgow to Rosyth today, 10 weeks ahead of schedule. As part of the the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier program, newbuilds HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will be the Royal Navy’s largest and most advanced ever warships and were constructed in blocks in different shipyards throughout the U.K. The final section being delivered, known as the Aft Island, weighs 750 metric tons and will control aircraft operations aboard the second aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales.

Defense minister Philip Dunne has visited Liverpool City Region U.K. based ship engine specialist James Troop & Co Thursday to review progress of a £2 million deal to replace the generator sets on seven Royal Navy Mine Hunters. Dunne, the Minister of State for Defense Procurement at the Ministry, met with staff across James Troop, one of the shipping industry’s most established companies. Dunne heard how James Troop is finishing the first phase of the contract to supply Volvo Penta engines and generators for the Royal Navy’s Sandown-class Mine Hunters: HMS Bangor…

Construction has begun on a new warship for the U.K. Royal Navy as the Minister of State for Defense Procurement, Philip Dunne MP cut the first steel in Glasgow today. HMS Trent is the third of three River Class Batch 2 Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) designed and constructed by BAE Systems. Employees, as well as representatives of the Royal Navy and local community, joined the Minister as he switched on a plasma cutting machine in a formal ceremony in Govan. “These new ships will…

Artful, the third of the U.K. Royal Navy’s new Astute Class attack submarines, has arrived at her Scottish base port from where she will carry out sea trials before entering service later this year, the U.K. Ministry of Defense announced. The 7,400-metric-ton, 97-meter-long Artful left BAE Systems’ construction yard at Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria several days ago before sailing to her new home at Her Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde. HMNB Clyde will become a home for the Royal Navy’s submarines and associated support by 2020, creating a submarine centre of specialization.

U.K. Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has produced power from her onboard diesel generators (DGs) for the first time, marking a significant stage in the program. Firing up the diesel generators for the first time in Rosyth was Philip Dunne, Minister of State for Defense Procurement, who took part in a short ceremony and was accompanied by Rear Admiral Henry Parker representing the Ministry of Defense on the Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA), and Sir Peter Gershon, the Independent Chairman of the ACA.

BAE Systems has been awarded a £5.5 million contract to install a new Vessel Traffic Management System to assist in the controlling and monitoring of all ship movements within Portsmouth Harbor and the Eastern Solent. The contract is the latest development in the partnering agreement between BAE Systems, the Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defense to modernize HM Naval Base Portsmouth and prepare for the arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first of the four acre, 65,000 metric ton aircraft carriers to be based in Portsmouth.

The two-and-a-half-year £70 million  contract will protect around 100 highly skilled engineering jobs at BAE Systems in Portsmouth, the home port of the Royal Navy’s 6 Type 45 destroyers and future home of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, informs the UK Ministry of Defence. Further jobs will be sustained in the company’s wider supply chain. The contract will ensure the effectiveness of these complex and capable warships is maintained, ensuring they are fit to operate effectively around the world. "This £70 million contract is good news for Portsmouth. "Our Type 45 destroyers are the largest and most powerful the navy has ever had, featuring state-of-the-art equipment and weapons systems.

The UK Government's Ministry of Defence (MOD) informs it has awarded millions of pounds worth of new contracts to maintain its 1,450 strong fleet of small boats. The fleet of boats includes offshore raiding craft, pontoons up to 50 metres in length, police launches, and Pacific 24 rigid inflatable boats (RIBs), and inflatables. Six UK companies will benefit from a 5-year contract that will involve support for 1,450 boats used by the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army, and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Police. The contracts will provide maintenance, upkeep, repair, chartering, defect rectification, technical support, provision of spares and replacements.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has signed a £20 million contract to buy equipment for the Royal Navy's 3 new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). The contract will enable BAE Systems to begin work on the engines & gearboxes, etc. that need to be ordered in advance. During a visit to the company’s shipyards on the Clyde in Scotland, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne announced that MOD has committed £20 million to the programme. The OPVs will not only provide an additional capability for the UK but also…

HMS Duncan, the Royal Navy’s sixth Type 45 Destroyer, has entered into service from BAE four months ahead of schedule. The 7,500 tonne vessel will now embark on a program of trials to prepare the ship and her crew for operational deployment. HMS Duncan is the final Type 45 to enter service with the Royal Navy. Her handover to the Fleet marks the end of a 13-year build programme with BAE Systems to deliver the six ships – Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon, Defender and Duncan.

The Ministry of Defence is looking for ideas on how best to preserve the legacy of the Royal Navy's Invincible-Class aircraft carriers.The last of the ships, 'HMS Illustrious', is due to retire in late 2014 after 32 years of distinguished service that has seen her involved in operations around the world. Following the announcement last year that the 22,000-tonne ship will be preserved in some form, MOD is now inviting private companies, charities and trusts who are interested in buying her to come forward with ideas for her future use.

The keel was put down in a ceremony at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness attended by Defence Minister Philip Dunne, and came with the news that the first 2 of the 7 Astute Class submarines, HMS Astute & HMS Ambush, are nearing completion of their extensive sea trials and have been handed over to the Royal Navy to begin to prepare for operations. The seven Astute-Class submarines are being built for the Royal Navy to replace the Trafalgar-Class submarines and have greater firepower…

Thales U.K. signed a 10-year contract with the Ministry of Defense (MOD), worth up to £600 million, for the in-service support of the Royal Navy’s major sensor systems. The new Sensors Support Optimization Project (SSOP) builds on the Thales’s Contractor Logistics Support contract, originally signed in 2003, which has provided support to the Royal Navy’s sonar and electronic warfare systems for the past 10 years. Under the terms of SSOP, the in-service support contract has been extended to include all of the Royal Navy’s submarine visual systems…

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) £800 million contract with Rolls-Royce is for delivery & maintenance of the UK's nuclear submarine propulsion capability. Under the 10-year contract, which will help sustain around 2,000 jobs across the UK, Rolls-Royce will deliver and maintain the nuclear power source for the Royal Navy’s Astute Class and future Successor deterrent submarines. Part of the Submarine enterprise performance programme (SEPP), this contract will also help the company to transform its operations to carry out its work at best value for the taxpayer.

UK MOD announce Viking amphibious all-terrain vehicles to be regenerated under a  £37-million contract with BAE Systems. Used extensively by the Royal Marines, the 99 Viking BVS10 vehicles, which can be launched straight from the stern of a ship and propelled through water before landing for a beach assault, are in line for a major overhaul by BAE Systems. They were deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 for their versatility across tough terrains before they were later replaced by Warthog.

'Ambush', second of the Royal Navy's, new Astute Class attack submarines, sails into Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde today to begin sea trials. The 7,400-tonne submarine sailed from the shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, where she was built, to HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland. The seven Astute-class boats planned for the Royal Navy are the most advanced and powerful attack submarines Britain has ever sent to sea. They feature the latest nuclear-powered technology, which means they never need to be refuelled and can circumnavigate the world submerged…

'Ambush', the second of the Royal Navy's Astute-Class attack submarines prepares to leave the builder's yard. In the next few days, the 7,400-tonne submarine will leave the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, where she was built, and sail to Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde in Scotland. The seven Astute Class boats planned for the Royal Navy are the most advanced and powerful attack submarines Britain has ever sent to sea. They feature the latest nuclear-powered technology…

British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious is due to retire in 2014 & Defence seek proposals from organisations interested in preserving the warship. HMS Invincible, HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal came into service in the early 1980s and have spent the last thirty years protecting the UK's interests across the world. The last of the ships to be decommissioned, HMS Illustrious played a key role in the Falkland Islands, Iraq and Bosnia and is due to retire from the Royal Navy in 2014. "It is important that we preserve the legacy of the Royal Navy's Invincible Class aircraft carriers.