MoD plans huge £2.9bn sensor support contract with Thales UK

The Ministry of Defence has published its intent to award a 15-year, £2.9 billion contract to Thales UK Limited for the in-service support of a wide range of maritime sensors used across the Royal Navy’s surface ships and submarines.

Detailed in a Contract Finder notice titled Maritime Sensor Enhancement Team (M-SET), the proposed contract would cover through-life support, including maintenance, repair, obsolescence management, spares procurement, and safety certification of key equipment.

The systems in scope, pun intended, include:

• Sonars: 2050, 2054, 2076, 2087, 2093, and 2193
• Electronic support systems: UAA4, UAT, and UAT(16)
• Periscopes and masts: T&V Class periscopes, AJU, AJN, and AXA masts
• Additional components: AVS, orphan MRE and NEP cabinets

The contract would succeed the previous Sensors Support Optimisation Programme (SSOP) and is aimed at maintaining capability, availability, and reliability of these systems throughout the fleet.

According to the notice, Thales will be responsible for defining and delivering both preventative and corrective maintenance, managing spares, conducting repairs, and supporting updates for reliability and obsolescence mitigation. The contractor is also expected to support systems during Fleet Time and CES periods.

While most technical and performance-related details remain redacted, the contract includes structured annexes that define the list of systems, inventory codes, support matrices, repair timelines, and equipment programmes — all governed by a framework that ensures compliance with operational demands.

Although the notice outlines a clear intention to contract with Thales, no formal award has yet been made. The timeline indicates a delivery period from January 2024 to December 2038, covering a full spectrum of in-service support activities for the Royal Navy’s advanced sensor suite.