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Uk Ministry Of Defense News

16 Jan 2024

GE Vernova to Equip UK FSS Ships with Hybrid-electric Propulsion

(Image: Team Resolute)

GE Vernova's Power Conversion business in the UK has been chosen by Team Resolute to supply advanced hybrid propulsion technology for three Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships for the UK Ministry of Defense (MOD).Team Resolute is a consortium created by Spanish shipbuilder and defense company Navantia, shipbuilder Harland & Wolff and naval architects BMT to deliver the FSS program, for which Navantia UK, the UK subsidiary of Navantia, is prime contractor.The 216-meter-long ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) will be designed with an emphasis on minimizing carbon emissions.

18 Oct 2023

Converted OSV Enters Service in the UK as an Underwater Surveillance Ship

RFA Proteus (Photo: UK Royal Navy)

A converted offshore support vessel has taken on a new life as a dedicated underwater surveillance ship for the U.K.'s Royal Navy.Christened during a ceremony in London on October 10, RFA Proteus will be operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as a launchpad for remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV) and a home to a suite of specialist capabilities similar to those found in the offshore oil and gas industry.The ship, built in 2017 as a subsea construction vessel named Topaz Tangaroa, was acquired by the U.K.

02 Oct 2023

BAE Systems Secures $4,81B Funding for Next-Gen Nuclear Submarine Program

The UK Ministry of Defense has awarded £3.95 billion (currently ~$4,81 billion) of funding to BAE Systems for the next phase of the UK's next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine program, known as SSN-AUKUS.According to BAE Systems, SSN-AUKUS will be the largest, most powerful, and most advanced attack submarine the Royal Navy has ever operated and will eventually replace the Astute class, which BAE Systems builds at its site in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.The funding follows the AUKUS announcement in March by the leaders of Australia, the UK and the United States.

23 Mar 2023

Uncrewed Boats Are Changing the Way Wars Are Fought at Sea

An L3 Harris Arabian Fox MAST-13 unmanned surface vessel sails behind Royal Bahrain Naval Force missile corvette RBNS Al Muharraq (P 51) during a vessel boarding drill in the Arabian Gulf during exercise Neon Defender, Jan. 22. (Photo: Anita Chebahtah / U.S. Navy)

When Ukraine successfully deployed self-driving “drone” boats for a major attack on the Russian navy at Sevastopol in Crimea in September 2022 it was a defining moment that changed the future of naval warfare. Uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) have been used before, but this was the first instance of multiple, armed USVs, used simultaneously in combination with aerial drones for a successful, offensive naval operation on a military target.Several Russian ships were damaged in the attack…

15 Nov 2022

BAE Systems Wins $5 Billion Naval Shipbuilding Contract

(Image: BAE Systems)

Multinational defense contractor and shipbuilder BAE Systems announced it has been awarded a £4.2 billion (approx. $5 billion) contract from the U.K. Ministry of Defense to build the next five City Class Type 26 frigates for the U.K. Royal Navy in Glasgow.Ships of the class will be advanced warships designed for anti-submarine warfare and high-intensity air defense, but can adapt its role quickly to transport high volumes of humanitarian aid and house medical facilities, according…

13 Oct 2022

MST Launches First in a Series of 18 New Patrol Boats

(Photo: BMT)

Marine Specialised Technology Group has launched the first in a series of new Police Patrol Craft being built for the UK Ministry of Defense Police (MDP) and the Gibraltar Ministry of Defense Police (GDP)Awarded in March 2021, The Police Patrol Craft (PPC) contract is a six-year program that will see delivery of 18 patrol craft to various Police units around the UK and Gibraltar. The Patrol Craft will be used to ensure protection of major Royal Naval Assets, including capital ships and submarines…

30 Aug 2022

SeeByte Selected to Develop Future Crewed-uncrewed Teaming Concept

(Image: SeeByte)

SeeByte, developer of smart software solutions for uncrewed maritime systems, reports it been selected by the U.K. Ministry of Defense’s Defense and Security Accelerator (DASA) to design and develop a proof-of-concept solution to improve communication and understanding between operators and uncrewed maritime systems.The new concept will include tailoring the volume and content of messages received and predicting vehicles’ actions between communication updates, SeeByte said. The…

02 Jun 2022

Harland & Wolff Returns to Action with First Newbuild Order

© Shawn / Adobe Stock

The historic Belfast shipyard Harland & Wolff announced it has secured its first newbuild order since being bought out of administration in 2019.The shipyard, best known for having built the Titanic, is returning to action after being purchased by London-based InfraStrata. The yard said on Wednesday that it was awarded an initial contract worth approximately £8.5 million to build 11 barges for U.K.-based waste management and recycling company Cory, setting in motion the yard's…

16 Nov 2021

Gibraltar's New Patrol Boat Completes Sea Trials

(Photo: BMT)

HMS Cutlass, the first of two new vessels being built for the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron, has undergone initial trials.Over recent weeks, the new HPB-1900 has been subjected to rigorous trials to test all systems and performance against a demanding set of requirements specified by the Royal Navy.Marine Specialised Technology Group (MST Group) and designed in partnership with BMT, the vessel is powered by three Volvo D13 engines, each producing 1000 HP and driving triple MJP 350X Waterjets.

16 Jun 2021

UK Ministry of Defense Police Orders 18 High-speed Patrol Boats

Image courtesy BMT

Marine Specialized Technology (MST) Group has been announced as the winner in a competitive tender process with the U.K. MOD Defense Equipment & Support Organization (DE&S) to supply 18 high-speed patrol craft to the U.K. Ministry of Defense Police (MDP) and Gibraltar Defense Police (GDP). The five year contract is worth £36 million ($50.4 millon).The vessels, designed by MST in partnership with BMT, will be 15 meters in length and powered by twin inboard diesel propulsion engines driving twin Marine Jet Power 350X waterjets waterjets.

27 Mar 2018

UK Team to Resolve Type 45 Destroyer Power Issues

(Photo: BAE Systems)

An alliance team led by BAE Systems has won the contract to resolve propulsion issues that have been plaguing the U.K.’s most advanced air defense warships. The team, which also includes Cammell Laird and BMT, has been tasked to improve the resilience in the Royal Navy’s Type 45 Destroyer power and propulsion system by replacing the existing two diesel generators, fitting an additional diesel generator and modifying the high voltage system on each ship. The warships had reportedly suffered a number of breakdowns at sea due to problems with their propulsion systems.

12 Mar 2018

Cohort Companies to Deliver Maritime Defense Technologies

Photo: Cohort plc

Cohort plc companies MASS and SEA have been selected to form part of a new UK Ministry of Defense maritime research and development program being managed by defense technology company QinetiQ. QinetiQ has been awarded a contract by the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to manage the Progeny Maritime Research Framework contract to enhance the effect of technology in the maritime defense environment. Under the contract, QinetiQ will build and manage a community of interest who will contribute ideas to maximise the impact of science and technology for UK maritime defense.

18 Oct 2017

UK Partners Join Forces in Bid to Build Naval Frigates

(Image: Cammell Laird)

A new partnership between Cammell Laird and BAE Systems aims to position the companies to build five Type 31e Frigates for the U.K. Royal Navy. The Teaming Agreement has been formed in response to the U.K. Ministry of Defense Request for Information and will now be part of a competitive tender process. Under the agreement, Cammell Laird will act as Prime Contractor to build the Type 31e Frigates with BAE Systems providing warship design, engineering capability and combat systems expertise.

09 Aug 2017

BMT to Support for UK MOD’s Common Workboats

(Image: BMT)

BMT Group subsidiaries BMT Asset Performance Ltd and BMT Defense Services Ltd will work with Atlas Elektronik UK (AEUK) and its team of suppliers, who announced that it has been awarded a contract valued at £48 million for the supply and support of Common Workboats for the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) over a six-year period. Ranging in size from 11 to 18 meters, the multi-role SEA Class vessels share common components and will be modular in design. This unique approach enables rapid reconfiguration for a range of specialized operational roles…

24 Jul 2017

Workshops Address Burning Issues in a Changing World

A series of one day NEXT GENERATION Workshops are being held 'back to back' at the Grand Harbor hotel and conference venue overlooking the historic port of Southampton, U.K., October 24-26, 2017. The NEXT GEN program combines a group of dynamic international presenters with panel discussions. Opening sessions for each workshop feature expertise from heads of U.K. Border Force and U.K. Ministry of Defense, along with the Design and Engineering team from U.K. search and rescue provider the RNLI.

12 Jun 2017

Seawork Panel to Address Brexit Implications

John Haynes

Seawork 2017 is being held at the waterside location Mayflower Park in Southampton, U.K. from June 13-15, 2017. Seawork will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with a packed schedule including the Seawork Conference which will once again be offering thought-provoking sessions covering a wide variety of topics. John Haynes, Maritime Professional of the Year 2016, is running a topical panel discussion titled, ‘Shock Mitigation, International Vibration Directives and the Implications of Brexit’ at 12.15 on Tuesday, June 13.

08 Dec 2016

UK Royal Navy Contracts SEA for Sonar Support

(Photo: SEA/USASS)

Cohort plc company SEA won a contract by the UK Ministry of Defense (UK MoD) to provide support to a range of UK Royal Navy acoustic and sonar underwater systems fitted to the surface and sub-surface fleets. The two year deal to deliver the MoD Underwater Systems Architecture Advisory Service (USAAS) combines all Maritime Combat System Underwater Electronic Warfare (MCS-UEW) sonar support and advice requirements within a single program for the first time. It is valued at around $1.27 million and will task SEA with providing advice and support for the Sonar 2150…

04 Nov 2016

BAE Systems to Begin Building Next UK Warships in 2017

(Image: BAE Systems)

BAE Systems said it will cut first steel for the U.K. Royal Navy’s Type 26 Global Combat Ships in Glasgow in summer 2017, subject to final contract negotiations with the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MOD). “Backed by Britain’s rising defense budget, the Type 26 Program will deliver a new generation of cutting-edge warships for our Royal Navy at best value for taxpayers,” said Defense Secretary Michael Fallon during a visit to BAE Systems’ shipyard in Glasgow. “The U.K. Ian King, Chief Executive…

25 Oct 2016

Future Unmanned Naval Systems for MMCM Program

Thales, BAE Systems and their partner SAAB, ECA Group and ASV Global welcome the confirmation by the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) that the UK Ministry of Defense (MOD) and French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) will continue its collaboration for the combined United Kingdom and France MMCM (maritime mine counter measures) program. Initiated in 2010 under a cooperation agreement between France and the United Kingdom, the MMCM program develops a prototype autonomous system for detection and neutralisation of sea mines and underwater improvized explosive devices (UWIEDs). The agreement signed at Euronaval today between Harriet Baldwin…

07 Oct 2016

Incat to Build RoPax Vessel for Virtu Ferries

3D artist impression of the 110 meter ferry (Image: Incat)

Incat has been selected by Virtu Ferries of Malta to design and build a 110 meter vehicle passenger RoPax ferry. The new wave piercing catamaran will become the 15th fast ferry Virtu has acquired, it will be the largest high speed catamaran in the Mediterranean and with a service speed up to 38 knots it will complete the crossing from Malta to Sicily, berth to berth, in around 90 minutes. “Virtu Ferries is amongst the oldest, most respected and most discerning fast ferry operators in the world…

25 Aug 2016

Former HMS Illustrious Sold for Scrap

HMS Illustrious (Photo: U.K. Royal Navy)

The former aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious will be recycled after 32 years of service, announced the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MOD) who sold the ship to Turkish company LEYAL Ship Recycling Ltd for around £2 million. The MOD’s initial plan for the retired aircraft carrier was to retain part or all of the ship in the U.K. for heritage purposes. A competition seeking bids for development plans was launched in 2013, and though a number of proposals were received, none proved to be viable.

10 Aug 2016

Next Generation Workshops Set for Southampton

A unique program of three specialist events for the sub IMO / sub 24 meter professional sector is being held ‘back to back’ at the Grand Harbour in Southampton, U.K. this October. The fast moving workshop style program brings together an international group of experts armed with the latest knowledge to identify problems that affect the maritime sector worldwide – and highlight potential solutions. Event organizer and workshop lead John Haynes said, “We are really pleased with the diversity of high level presenters from military, commercial and SAR backgrounds.

19 Aug 2015

UK's Newest Submarine Arrives on the Clyde

Artful arriving at HMNB Clyde (Photo: U.K. Ministry of Defense)

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.