DE&S has signed a £23 million agreement to provide Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships with new radios.
Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the Ministry of Defence procurement organisation, has signed a £23 million agreement to provide Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships with new radios.
The radios will be installed on 39 ships in total, including Type 23 Frigates, survey and ice patrol vessels, minehunters and RFA supply ships and will be used to communicate with other ships, ports and aircraft during operations.
They will replace numerous older radios. As more modern pieces of equipment they are easy to use and can be updated via software and operated remotely.
Defence Minister Stuart Andrew said:
“These radios will provide UK warships and supply vessels with an essential link to the outside world, both in home waters and on operations around the world.
This cutting-edge technology will ensure that in the face of intensifying threats, Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel have the tools they need to stay readily and securely connected. This cutting-edge technology will ensure that in the face of intensifying threats, Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel have the tools they need to stay readily and securely connected”
DE&S Director Ships Support Russell Brown said:
“Delivering these radios will ensure that UK sailors at sea will stay connected with the world around them, performing an essential role in defence of our national security and interests. DE&S has contracted with Thales to design, integrate and support cutting-edge V/UHF radio technology to the fleet, providing essential capability on which the Royal Navy and RFA depends, at best value to the taxpayer.”
The first radio will enter service on a Type 23 Frigate in 2020, with all radios due to be delivered and installed by the end of 2023.
600,000 for a radio… can they talk with E.T. ?
It’s for 300 radios + dev and support. £76k per radio not taking into account the afore mentioned services.
Well makes sense I supose… But why 300 radios?
Ooh new radios! Cosmic.
Now the navy can once again rule the waves by laying down some awesome beats and stopping war by starting some pumping parties.
Just in time for Christmas as well.
It is a shame that Marconi do make radios anymore. Being swallowed up by BAE was not the right thing to do.
Asset stripped by BaE and they weren’t the only one.
I’m sick of BAE buying and destroying British millitary businesses! And Where’s our army tank building these days? We invented the dam Army tank and we should be building and exporting them! It’s funny how we named tanks “tanks” though in order to hide what they actually were, we British told troops In WW1 that they were moveable Water tanks, and “Tank” stuck. Oops I went of topic a bit!
I just want NAVTEX printers again.
About time.
U/VHF sets where lagging well behind the newer HF sets that are in service.
With Bowman fitted on most vessels they where looking long in the tooth.
Software upgrades are the way to go as new wave forms are developed improving TX and RX capability.