The Royal Navy is set to benefit from £285 million in combat system upgrades through a new contract with BAE Systems, designed to enhance the fleet’s ability to track, analyse, and respond to threats in combat, according to a press release from the Ministry of Defence.
The programme, known as RECODE (Real-time Combat System Open Data Enablers), will support more than 200 jobs across the UK while modernising systems on key warships, including Type 23 frigates, Type 45 destroyers, Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, and Type 26 frigates.
Maria Eagle, Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, said: “This significant investment in our industry is another example of how our Government is making defence an engine for growth. We are strengthening the UK’s defences while supporting growth, with hundreds of high-skilled jobs, to help deliver on our Plan for Change.”
The project will sustain highly skilled roles at BAE Systems sites in Filton, Dorchester, New Malden, Frimley, and Portsmouth, while also creating new investment opportunities for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and high-tech suppliers across the UK. Minister Eagle added: “By working with British industry, we’re ensuring our Royal Navy has the advanced technology it needs while strengthening our domestic defence industrial base.”
The combat management system (CMS) is critical for Royal Navy operators, integrating sensors and weapons for optimal decision-making. The upgrades will improve key functions such as situation awareness, threat evaluation, navigation, and weapon direction and control. BAE Systems has supported these systems for over 25 years, and the new contract will further enhance their effectiveness.
The announcement comes shortly after the Royal Navy tracked the Russian spy ship Yantar in British waters, showcasing the importance of maintaining cutting-edge capabilities. According to the press release, “upgrades such as RECODE will further improve the Royal Navy’s crucial deterrence capabilities”.
This initiative is part of the government’s forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy, which aligns national security with economic growth under the Plan for Change. By ensuring advanced technological upgrades, the government aims to maintain maritime superiority while bolstering the UK’s defence industrial base.
Parkinson’s Law, circa 1958, by Prof. C. Northcote Parkinson, still applies.
£285m is the new £28.5m
The state has a monopoly on violence and it costs more and more in taxes while the comfort of the rich depends upon an abundant supply of the poor and the pound is becoming increasingly worthless.
I’d just like to point out that when the mob starts to reason all is lost. 🤷🤦♂️ ! Oh the irony is overwhelming !!
Give peace a chance !!! ♾️❤️☮️
Would the uk scrapping the Royal Navy make you happy ?
It’s already been scrapped kid. 🤦♂️
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More political clap trap with the intention of just trying to be a wind up merchant! Give peace a chance yaaaaaaaawn send your commuti Putin, Kim jong whatever, the mad mullahs and all the other nutters knocking about. Peace is actually secured by strength my little troll.
Probably one or more of Chinas 2-3 million political warfare operatives.. although probably not as China is better at political warfare than these repetitive posts… Russian then or a home grown useful idiot.
Jonathan you sound like Hillary and Macrons’s love child, I expected better from you.
❤️☮️
Aurelius is probably a pacifist like Pete Seeger was a pacifist in is Songs for John Doe…album…
James Wilton 18 yrs, dead, killed last July on his first mission as a f¥€£in’ runner in Ukraine, no military experience.
Killed on the alter of corporate greed.
His family wish he was a pacifist and was trolling for China or Russia for 5kg of spuds a week.
🫶✌️
Aurelius, If the pound is becoming increasingly worthless, wouldn’t that make strong defense investments even more critical to maintaining stability? A weak economy and a weak military are an open invitation to external threats. And if the state has a monopoly on violence, as you say, then who exactly would enforce peace if not a well-equipped national defense? History shows that peace is preserved not by wishful thinking, but by deterrence. Disarming in the face of growing global tensions isn’t noble—it’s naïve. But then again, perhaps that’s what your Russian paymasters are really after from the UK.
Mate he is a troll who repeats the same guff to most posts! He has to earn the bonus 5kg of potatoes this week, so he must troll extra hard!
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Hiya DJK I’m not a politician or an economist but I do have eyes and a brain, our ministry of defence would more aptly be named the ministry of attack because politics has become the continuation of warfare by any means. I’m not an enemy spy or troll but do have an opinion which I do know lies between knowledge and ignorance I quite enjoy this comments section and value all viewpoints opposed to mine, although it would appear we have quite a few cpl. Himmelstoss like characters from all quiet on the western front. I am a self taught… Read more »
Combat system upgrades – probably the best way to enhance our capabilities if you don’t increase the size of the armed forces. Extra new ships would simply take a lot longer.
It is probably about bringing all the CMS to the same baseline as T26 incorporating the lessons learned with Sea Ceptor.
Otherwise you have to have multiple training pipelines and AAW specialists who can’t cross deck onto another type.
That is my interpretation anyway…which might be flawed!
We can hope though…
Software defined but can be hardware limited….
Is the BAE system shipyard are still hiring for foreign skilled worker?
Look on their website. They probably are in you have the right skills. Govan is a lovely part of Glasgow
Donald the maniac is trying to save us from ourselves and Keir the mindless, well ! His actions speak louder than words. I could be an enemy troll with my peace rhetoric but in reality I’m just one of the vast majority who doesn’t want to die attacking a village no one has ever heard of through withering fire or even worse in a nuclear strike. I have noticed the armchair warriors on here arn’t on any front line fighting for their beliefs but are willing to let others do it, and as for propaganda those who can make you… Read more »