to the end…
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The UK’s Ministry of Defence and Babcock International Ltd. have agreed on a 10-year, performance-based, GBP 155 million (currently $230 million) contract for submarine engineering support services across the entire fleet. Work during the 10-year contract period will include deciding what engineering work the submarines require when they undergo their scheduled maintenance. The contract will accompany a GBP 1 billion, 10-year, July 2007 contract with Rolls Royce to maintain the British subs’ nuclear reactors.
With the sale of its Upholder Class diesel-electric submarines to Canada in the late 1990s, Britain became an all-nuclear submarine fleet. A May 2007 purchase made Babcock International the sole owner of Britain’s only dockyard for nuclear submarines, and the maintenance of a qualified workforce on steady terms is an important aspect of Britain’s languishing Defence Industrial Strategy.
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The MOD and its industry partners will continue working together jointly as the Submarine Support Management Group (SSMG), which includes Babcock, BMT Defence Services, and the MoD’s Systems Engineering and Assessment (SEA). The contract’s terms match a trend in Britain toward “performance based against shared goals with greater emphasis placed on managing through-life issues rather than specific tasks.” UK MoD release | Babcock International release.
The Royal Navy’s 4 SSBN Vanguard Class ballistic missile submarines are currently joined by 7 SSN Trafalgar Class fast attack or “fleet subs”and 1 remaining Swiftsure Class SSN, with production of 4 Astute Class fleet subs already contracted to various degrees, and 7-8 planned. A December 2008 contract will take the next step for Britain’s SSBN fleet, by defining the nuclear missile launcher that will equip Britain’s next SSBN design.