The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded BAE Systems a 10-year contract worth £270million to support the Royal Navy’s 3 main radar systems, securing hundreds of jobs including at their Island base in Cowes.
The contract replaces a number of existing contracts and means that BAE Systems will support the Royal Navy’s 3 main radar systems – Artisan, Sampson and Long Range Radar (LRR).
Every major Royal Navy ship features at least 1 of these 3 systems and the BAE Systems engineers will provide maintenance support and upgrade existing radars.
The MOD (£37.5million) and BAE Systems (£12.5million) are also jointly investing £50million in research and development to develop the next generation of radar technology and hopes to ensure that the UK remains a global market leader in the field.
It is good news for BAE Systems workers in Cowes as the support contract and joint investment secures around 400 highly-skilled British jobs on the Island and other locations.
James Cartlidge, 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 UK, this contract is a boost for the UK Supply Chain and lets our adversaries know we are equipped, prepared and ready.”
Scott Jamieson, Managing Director, BAE Systems Maritime Services added:
“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.”
Good news for the Island.
Good news. BUT 400 jobs on the Island and ‘other locations’ so not hundreds of jobs for the Island. Great pity that big business machinations ruined the original radar factory which did employ hundreds
Make things look good in the brochures. Yes jobs but they are funded by the tax payer and someone probably gets a nice bonus along the way.Why are some making a fortune out of publicly funded contracts even when they end up producing obsolete equipment