UK MoD placed $74.5 million contract for new aircraft carriers

The MoD today announced that sub-contracts worth over £52M ($74.5 million) for a wide range of equipment for the two Queen Elizabeth Class Future Aircraft Carriers have been placed, helping to secure jobs and sustain work for industry across the UK. “As well as the everyday essentials such as washing machines and TVs that will make the ship’s company comfortable onboard, the contracts announced today provide for some of the highly sophisticated equipment that will make these ships fit for the Royal Navy of the 21st century. “With construction well under way and the first units of the pre-fabricated units having arrived at the dockyard in Rosyth where they will be assembled, the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers are beginning to take shape”. Tony Graham, Head of Capital Ships within MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support, said: “The vast majority of Queen Elizabeth Class supply contracts have now been placed. These latest orders begin to close out the few remaining supply agreements needed to finish HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince Of Wales. Our supply chain stretches the length and breadth of the UK, and as such we recognise that the build of these two important warships is a national endeavour of great consequence for jobs, skills and local pride”. The two future aircraft carriers will carry out a whole range of operations from high-intensity fighting to support to humanitarian relief. The sub-contracts include: -- £16M for 12,000 valves by Score Marine Ltd, based in Peterhead, who employ 675 people at the site. -- £15M for an integrated waste management system managed by Babcock Strachan & Henshaw in Bristol, helping to sustain employment for their suppliers for the next six to eight years. (See notes to editors). -- £14M for water-tight fire doors by Marine Systems Technology, which will guarantee at least three years’ of production at two sites in Cheshire. -- £3M for ship lighting and lighting distribution panels by McGeoch Technology Ltd, based in Birmingham. -- £2M for the supply of glass reinforced epoxy pipes and fittings by Pipex Ltd, based in Plymouth. This contract potentially underpins the continual employment of Pipex’s 120 strong workforce. -- £790K for laundry equipment by Kempsafe Ltd, based in Southampton, sustaining staffing levels within the company. -- £500K for galley furniture by CED Fabrications Ltd, based in East Lancashire, sustaining five jobs in the company. -- £484K for integrated Internet Protocol TV by Telindus Ltd, based in Hampshire. -- £343K for the design phase of the wireless communication system by Selex. Communications Ltd. The company’s Basildon site will provide support and infrastructure for the radios. -- £280K for cable transit frames by MCT Brattberg Ltd, based in Haslingden, Lancashire.