Rolls-Royce awarded £85 million to support RN Type 23 engine

The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded Rolls-Royce £85 million to support of the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate engines. 

This is for the provision of a support package for Spey gas turbines, including the overhaul of engines, provision of spares, and engineering and safety support. 

‘This £85 million contract demonstrates the UK’s commitment to modernisation through the maintenance of our formidable Type 23s,’ Stuart Andrew, the UK’s minister for defence procurement, said. 

Rolls-Royce will overhaul thirty Type 23 engines from the UK and NATO partners in Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands under the terms of the contract. 

‘This work continues the British tradition of supporting our closest allies and solidifying our global position as world-leaders in advanced maritime technology and development,’ Andrew added.

The support deal is expected to provide £35 million in savings to the MOD over the next eight years, by incentivising Rolls-Royce to improve repair schemes, minimise unnecessary work, and procure spares at a lower cost, which will result in shorter, less expensive overhauls.

Rolls-Royce will manage the support contract, although the main overhaul and repair work will be carried out by RWG based in Aberdeen, Scotland, supporting up to 25 UK jobs across both companies.

‘The Type 23 frigate is central to Royal Navy operations around the world and keeping it at the forefront of operations is critical,’ VAdm Chris Gardner, Defence Equipment and Support’s chief of materiel ships, added.

‘This vital support contract builds upon our Rolls-Royce target to achieve and sustain increased Spey engine availability to the Royal Navy and [its] NATO partners the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal,’ Matt Nadin, director of naval fleet services at Rolls-Royce, noted.