The Ministry of Defence has awarded Tyco Fire & Integrated Solutions (UK) Ltd a contract worth £228,000 for the manufacture and supply of replacement fire detection systems for the Vanguard-class submarines.
This move follows the issuance of a voluntary ex ante transparency notice in August 2024.
The contract, set to run from 29th August 2024 to 28th February 2025, aims to replace existing fire detection systems aboard the submarines as part of routine maintenance and safety upgrades. The Vanguard class, integral to the UK’s nuclear deterrent, requires stringent safety measures, making these fire detection systems crucial for operational safety.
The procurement process was conducted under a negotiated procedure without prior publication, which is typical for contracts that exceed certain thresholds in the defence sector. However, in this case, the Ministry of Defence chose Tyco Fire & Integrated Solutions due to the company’s expertise in fire safety technologies and its ability to meet the unique requirements of the Vanguard-class submarines.
The Vanguard Class
Introduced in 1994 as part of the UK’s Trident nuclear programme, the class consists of four vessels: Vanguard, Victorious, Vigilant, and Vengeance, which were constructed between 1986 and 1999 at Barrow-in-Furness by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, now a part of BAE Systems.
All four submarines are based at HM Naval Base Clyde (HMS Neptune), approximately 40 km (25 miles) west of Glasgow, Scotland.
Following the retirement of the Royal Air Force’s WE.177 free-fall thermonuclear bombs in March 1998, the Vanguard submarines have been the sole carriers of the United Kingdom’s nuclear arsenal. Each submarine is equipped with up to 16 UGM-133 Trident II missiles.
The Vanguard class is due to be replaced by the Dreadnought-class submarines, with the first of the new vessels expected to enter service in the early 2030s.
