British warships to get £250m upgrades

The Ministry of Defence has awarded a £250 million contract to upgrade Royal Navy communications systems, securing over 100 high-skilled jobs across the UK and enhancing operational capability.

The 10-year contract for Maritime Communications Capability Support (MCCS), awarded by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), will modernise both internal and external communications across the Royal Navy’s warships and submarines.

Work will be carried out by Thales UK, with jobs supported at its sites in Portsmouth, Plymouth, Crawley, Reading, and Bristol. This deal represents the largest-ever contract for naval communications capability provision and aligns with the UK Government’s Defence Industrial Strategy, which aims to strengthen British industry and safeguard national security.

According to Defence Procurement Minister Maria Eagle, the investment is essential for maintaining the UK’s continuous at-sea deterrent and bolstering global operations.

“This new contract is a vital step in ensuring our forces remain secure at home and strong abroad. By enhancing the capabilities of our naval operations, we are reinforcing the UK’s ability to respond to threats wherever they arise.”

The project is also claimed to save the Royal Navy up to £30 million in costs over the next decade.

The new MCCS contract replaces the previous Fleetwide Communications contract, which Thales UK has managed for seven years. It introduces waterfront office services, improved maintenance, inventory management, and faster equipment recovery to enhance fleet readiness.

A key focus is on streamlining operations, with Commodore Phil Game, Director of Sense, Decide & Communicate at DE&S, highlighting the benefits of reducing red tape:

“We estimate that this contract will save between £25 million and £30 million in through-life costs over the 10-year support period by working in a much more collaborative way with Thales UK, underlining our ‘one defence’ philosophy.”

Thales UK has provided Royal Navy communication systems for over seven years. CEO Phil Siveter welcomed the new contract, emphasising its role in keeping the Royal Navy combat-ready:

“At Thales we are delighted to continue supporting the Royal Navy in its vital mission to protect our nation. This long-term fleetwide support framework reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring the Royal Navy remains equipped with world-class communications capabilities, today and into the future.”

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