The Naval Combat System Integration Support Services (NCSISS) contract is a four year programme to provide shore test facilities, specialised testing and analysis equipment and deep technical expertise to approve combat system equipment for warships before it is fitted on vessels.
For 40 years, the shore testing facility at Portsdown Technology Park has played a central role in the integration and testing of complex combat equipment for all Royal Navy warships. A unique and highly specialised facility, it ensures that the Royal Navy has safe and capable combat equipment ahead of setting sail on operations across the world.
Peter Luff, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, said: “This is good news for both the Portsdown Technology Park, Portsmouth, which remains a strategic national asset, and for the local economy as 250 local jobs will be sustained.
“Portsdown is essential to ensuring that our sailors have the safe and highly effective equipment they need whilst on operations across the world. The collaboration of QinetiQ and BAE Systems will be fundamental and demonstrates how the MoD and industry are forging ahead together to support our Armed Forces.”
Chief of Materiel, Vice Admiral Andrew Matthews, said: “The facility in Portsdown is a jewel in the MoD’s crown as it provides our Royal Navy with a UK based centre of excellence for the integration of maritime combat systems. It makes sure that our ships have all the right equipment working seamlessly, so our sailors can trust that their equipment will work correctly, first time and every time.”
Mark Townley, Combat Systems Director at BAE Systems, said: “We selected this facility as our centre for the Type 45 combat system integration and have further developed it for the mission system for the QE Class aircraft carriers. This latest contract underlines the region’s position as the centre for combat systems capability in the UK and creates an opportunity to build on our success in maintaining and updating the Royal Navy’s equipment, against a backdrop of increasingly complex technology and rapid rates of development.”
BAE Systems has over 50 years’ experience in developing and integrating state of the art combat systems for the surface fleet, equipping customers with the best information to operate effectively in modern naval environments. Recent developments include the Combat System architectures for the Type 45 destroyers, Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and Astute Class submarines.
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384719 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739
www.baesystems.com
Ref: 046/2012