Future support for the Royal Navy’s new destroyers has been confirmed by Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies today, Wednesday 16 September 2009.
The announcement of a £309m contract being awarded to BVT Surface Fleet secures the in-service support for Type 45 class vessels HMS Daring and her sister ships for up to seven years, starting in January 2010.
HMS Daring is scheduled to enter service with the Royal Navy in February 2010 and will provide a step-change in the Royal Navy’s air defence capability.
The other ships in the class, Dauntless, Diamond and Dragon, will come into service later in 2010 and HMS Defender is due to be launched later this year.
The Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:
“BVT bring in-depth knowledge of these destroyers that will assure the high quality support that is essential to the continued delivery of this world class capability.
“The contract is expected to sustain around one hundred and twenty quality jobs, primarily in Portsmouth, and many more with key supply chain partners across the country, helping to retain the essential skills we need in this industry.
“The Type 45 is setting the standard for the modern Royal Navy, providing a multi-role asset combining state-of-the-art power and propulsion systems, a world class weapons system and modern accommodation for its crew.”
The majority of maintenance work will be carried out at Portsmouth Naval Base, the Type 45s’ home port, with the contract covering support for platform equipments such as the galley apparatus as well as more complex machinery, including the propulsion system.
The Director of Ships at MOD Defence Equipment and Support, Rear Admiral Bob Love, said:
“The Type 45 support solution is an innovative contract which sees the prime contractor for the build of the ships providing in-service support, ensuring high quality support at best value of money for Defence.
“BVT will manage equipment availability to agreed targets, incentivising them to minimise the cost of support by improving equipment reliability. This is the first time this arrangement has been used for a major warship.”
BVT Chief Executive Alan Johnston said:
“This contract demonstrates an entirely new and genuinely innovative approach to providing the support that the ships and sailors of the Royal Navy need and deserve. The key requirement for Type 45 support is not only to ensure that ships are available when required by the Royal Navy but to reduce the costs of supporting the ships through life.
“Working more closely in partnership with both our customers and our major partners will ensure that the Royal Navy is able to deliver its operational commitments around the world.”
HMS Daring is currently completing MOD-led sea trials before she is delivered into service with the Royal Navy, scheduled in early 2010, and HMS Dauntless has just completed her second set of contractor-led sea trials.
The third ship, Diamond, is expected to begin her first set of trials in the autumn while those for Dragon, the fourth Type 45, are scheduled to begin in 2010. The fifth Type 45, Defender, is due to be launched on the Clyde later this year.
