The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Mission Systems a $255 million contract covering work on the Strategic Weapon System Fire Control Subsystem, with the deal also supporting the United Kingdom’s ballistic missile submarine force, according to a U.S. Department of Defense contract notice.
The Pentagon said General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc. of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is being awarded a “$255,134,514 hybrid, cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-only contract” for fiscal years 2026 to 2027 fire control subsystem efforts under contract number N0003026C1005.
The notice added that the contract includes options valued at “$485,309,314.” The Department of Defense confirmed that “this contract award also benefits a Foreign Military Sale to the United Kingdom,” indicating that the work will contribute directly to UK strategic deterrent infrastructure.
According to the notice, the contract covers a wide range of support activities, including “development, production, sustainment, modernisation, repair, installation, training, and technical engineering services support” for multiple submarine fleets. The Pentagon stated the work will support “the U.S. SSBN, UK SSBN, and SSGN fleets,” linking the contract to both ballistic missile submarines and guided missile submarines operated by the United States, alongside the UK’s continuous at-sea deterrent force.
Work will take place primarily in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, which accounts for 87 per cent of activity, with additional work conducted in the United Kingdom, representing 4 per cent of the contract effort. Other locations listed include Groton, Connecticut, Quonset Point, Rhode Island, Cape Canaveral, Florida, Bangor, Washington, and Kings Bay, Georgia.
The Department of Defense said work is expected to be completed by 1 June 2033.
Funding obligated at the time of award includes procurement, shipbuilding and conversion, weapons procurement, and research and development funding across fiscal years 2022 to 2026. The contract was awarded as a sole source acquisition. The Pentagon stated it was issued “pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(1)” and was previously published through the System for Award Management portal.
Great photo, love the play of light on the boat. Escorted by an MDP Patrol Craft and I think one of 43 Commando’s Island Class vessels on the right, either Mull, Rona, or Eorsa.
Not an Archer class?
They are very similar looking, so might be. 43 Commando RM ( so FPGRM ) have 3 ex MDP vessels used for escorting subs in and out of port, which look similar to Archer Class. So, I reasonably assumed that this was one of those. Archer vessels HMS Raider and HMS Tracker of the Faslane PBS are also there so….anyone recognise the difference between an Archer and an RM Island Class from the front?
If that’s not rhetorical… The central windows on the Islands are squarish, about the same width as the two flanking windows. On a P2000 it’s rectangular, much wider than the outer two. On the Islands you can also see a raked-back line of three small windows above the main ones, which don’t exist on the Archers. Hope that helps for a quick spot in the future.
It’s a pretty old photo. According to the Wiki the photo was taken in 2010, three years before the Islands were handed over to the RM. Dasher or Pursuer are the most likely candidates, having returned from the disbanded Cyprus Squadron in March that year to form the new Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron.
We got to stop “Handing our Islands over”.
Photographic credit goes to Chief Petty Officer Tam McDonald. I’m sure he’ll be happy to know you like it.
Well I’m an artist, occasionally, so I appreciated the light.
The smaller, darker boat is an Island and the other (far right) appears to be an Archer, however there are certain features that confuse recognition, like the lack of full width radar bridge and what appears to be a 16 Inch Gun on the bow. Also the Square cornered windows are from the original MK 1 Comet and stress fracture issues later required a slight re-design.
Hope this helps.
😁
I suppose the Trident fire control system is one piece of defence kit in which customer feedback isn’t really a concern.
That’s a lot of money for fitting a big red button with the word ‘FIRE’ marked on the top
A successful test fire would be nice