Lockheed will provide Strategic Weapon System Trident fleet support, Trident Shipboard Integration Increment 8 and 16 and also Columbia class and Dreadnought class navigation subsystem development efforts.

According to the US State Department in a contract notice:

“The Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, Mitchell Field, New York, is awarded a $68,603,033 cost plus incentive fee and cost plus fixed fee contract modification (P00005) to previously awarded and announced contract N00030-20-C-0045 for the U.S. and United Kingdom to provide Strategic Weapon System Trident fleet support, Trident II SSP Shipboard Integration (SSI) Increment 8, SSI Increment 16, Columbia class and U.K. Dreadnought class navigation subsystem development efforts.  Work will be performed in Mitchel Field, New York (47%); Huntington Beach, California (36%); Clearwater, Florida (9%); Cambridge, Massachusetts (6%); and Hingham, Massachusetts (2%), with an expected completion date of Nov. 30, 2022. 

Subject to the availability of funding, fiscal 2021 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $42,869,626; fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $4,247,698; and United Kingdom funds in the amount of $21,485,709, will be obligated at time of award.  No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was a sole-source acquisition in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and (4).  Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.”

The UK will be paying $21.5m for this contract.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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maurice10
maurice10
3 years ago

Dreadnought, QE carriers, Type 26 and 31, then that could be it in terms of heavy UK military spending. The rest will have slim picking, sad but what other priorities are there or options for that matter?

Andy
Andy
3 years ago
Reply to  maurice10

We are in the age of drones now.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
3 years ago
Reply to  maurice10

There are hundreds of equipment and systems programmes Maurice. They don’t all cost billions.

maurice10
maurice10
3 years ago

We all know the budget screw is going to be turned, possibly like never before, and as such, only key programmes will be protected, which could result in significant programme cancellations. At the end of the day my aforementioned (above) equipment will have to survive the coming storm.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
3 years ago
Reply to  maurice10

Do you ever post anything that is not laden with doom?
Yes, we know there will be cuts. There have been for the last 30 years and before that too.
I for one prefer to look to the positives, wait and see, and hope they will not be as bad as the doom merchants predict on a constant basis.

maurice10
maurice10
3 years ago

It’s not doom Daniele, just becoming increasingly aware of the budget issues that will be a real test of fiscal courage, in the coming months and years. I’d love to be optimistic about the future of the UK’s defences, however, when experts predict huge cuts to the US military due to COVID, it’s very hard to see how the MOD will get away with only modest cuts. As I have said in other messages, I believe the UK Government will probably have no choice but to spend heavily on the RN in their goal to increase global reach objectives. Hence… Read more »

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
3 years ago
Reply to  maurice10

Hi Maurice. I was coming back here to apologise, as I thought after that my reply came across as rather cutting…. So glad you didn’t take it the wrong way. Sorry! I can lament as well as anyone. Back to your original point on priorities. From listening to CGS the army I think will still be concentrating on their Strike Brigades. I think Tanks too will survive, but in smaller numbers. There will be lots of unmanned stuff coming to supplement smaller numbers of manned armoured vehicles, to provide some missing mass. Boxer will survive, Warrior not so sure. Apart… Read more »

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
3 years ago

Oh yes, on the RN, I agree. It should take priority with a maintained RFA and RM. I cannot see how it can be any other way, as you say, for global reach.
Interestingly, HMG describe the QEC as defence assets rather than purely RN assets.

maurice10
maurice10
3 years ago

No apology is necessary as I can be a bit doom laden. The current climate does little to reignite the pre-virus optimism though, hopefully, we will see the sunlit up lands once again and may even consider a third carrier?

I believe we have to accept there will be casualties but I hope the MOD will still continue with Army and Airforce projects though, possibly, purchase less kit? It’s better to have capability even if it is with less numbers, than none at all.

Cheers.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
3 years ago
Reply to  maurice10

Yes. It’s known as salami slicing, but I’m afraid I too prefer having a capability rather than none, even if it means less.
We are at minimal numbers already though in many areas, so I will be surprised if HMG removes entire capabilities. Its why they kept cutting escorts and Fast Jet Squadrons, we once had plenty of them, in comparison to other assets. That piggy bank is gone.

Sean
Sean
3 years ago
Reply to  maurice10

There may be cuts, but if so it will be nothing to do with current finances. Assuming the current level of tax to the Exchequer it will take nearly 3,000 years to pay off the U.K. National Debt. However paying it off needn’t actually be a priority in that;- interest on the debt is small, in some cases negative with investors paying for the safety of U.K. government bonds to shelter their cash pretty much every other economy is in exactly the same position – which is why U.K. hasn’t been down-rated by any of the 3 big ratings agencies… Read more »

Gavin Gordon
Gavin Gordon
3 years ago

Fan of Lockheed. Boeing, not so much.

Farouk
Farouk
3 years ago

When I was based on Ascension Island during my 6 month stint , the Yanks would test their trident missiles off the coast. When they did, they would bring in a load of planes such as Hawkeye and always test the missiles at nighttime our end. ( they would launch them from off the coast of Florida) i and a few others would pop up to the BBC bar at Two boats and from their outside veranda which overlooked a lot of Island watch the missiles come down over the sea ( minus warheads of course) we would joke the… Read more »

Farouk
Farouk
3 years ago
Reply to  Farouk

Damn should proof read , my last was meant to say the warheads would separate and spread out on the way down like a Standards fireworks rocket, but without the bang.