JFD in £11m contract to support Royal Navy subsea capability

Underwater systems specialist JFD has secured a new £11 million, eight-year contract with the Ministry of Defence to maintain and upgrade the Royal Navy’s transportable diving compression chambers, ensuring their long-term operational readiness.

The contract will provide comprehensive in-service support for the Transportable Manned Compression Chambers (TMCCs), which are used to treat divers suffering from decompression illness or to support complex underwater operations requiring decompression. According to JFD, the package will include regular maintenance, safety and capability upgrades, certification, and training.

Our editor George recently visited JFD to see what the company do first hand, below is his report.

The TMCCs are a critical element of the Royal Navy’s diving capability, designed to be deployed in a range of environments and emergencies. As the MoD continues to emphasise operational readiness across its forces, ensuring this equipment is fully functional at all times has been described as essential.

“I am delighted the UK MoD has chosen our world-class team to continue to provide the in-service support for their Type C Chambers,” said Rob Hales, Managing Director at JFD.

“This is testament to our innovation and expertise in subsea systems, and our deep understanding of the MoD’s requirements.”

The contract will see existing systems recertified and modernised to align with new technologies and international diving standards. The company says these modifications will not only enhance safety and reliability but also ensure interoperability with other military systems.

JFD has a longstanding relationship with the UK MoD and supplies subsea technology and services to navies around the world. The company’s Cowan Transportable Recompression Chamber System, capable of depths up to 70 metres and supporting a range of gas mixtures, has already been widely adopted by forces in the US and Australia.

Peter Laughton, Head of Military Diving at JFD, added: “When you need a diving compression chamber in anger, it’s invariably an emergency and potentially life-threatening situation demanding the highest levels of equipment availability and performance.”

With more than 100 systems delivered globally and operations supporting 33 navies, JFD is positioning itself as a key player in defence subsea safety and rescue operations. The firm’s latest win further consolidates its status as a trusted provider of critical underwater support infrastructure to the UK military.