UK MoD awards £20million contract for Astute Class
JFD provides fast, safe and reliable subsea rescue services, products, engineering services and training to 80 countries. (Photo: JFD)
JFD, a subsidiary of James Fisher and Sons plc, has been awarded a contract by the UK MoD to be the provider of a novel capability support contract for the Astute-class submarine.
The contract is valued in excess of £20million and has a length of four years, with a one-year extension option.
It is a long-term support contract to provide equipment-level in-service support including core and non-core tasking and the provision of spares.
JFD will provide expertise for both onboard and offboard systems, which demand a high level of through-life support to ensure the capability is ready for operations.
JFD has partnered with RB Safety Consultants, a medium-sized consultancy with an existing reputation in the submarine enterprise for providing assurance oversight.
Capability assurance is provided by JFD’s carefully constructed and balanced blend of experienced and knowledgeable people, efficient systems and processes and proactive management with streamlined decision making.
The Astute-class submarine has faced scrutiny recently as the UK NAO report revealed the construction of the fifth in-class submarine has seen delays of 25 months.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the Astute-class submarines are powered by a nuclear reactor and have a 25-year lifespan without being refuelled.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
US Navy selects 25 companies for up to $1.9 billion nuclear submarine contract
The multi-award contract will support the scheduled repair and maintenance of nuclear-powered attack submarines at the US Navy’s primary public shipyards.
-
DSEI 2025: Skana’s new autonomous maritime platforms signal company’s shift towards scalable assets
The Israeli defence technology company has taken the wraps off two autonomous vessels ahead of DSEI as it sets its sights on scalability and cost reduction.
-
Which countries could the US rely on to progress with its shipbuilding programmes?
The US Navy and US Coast Guard (USCG) are in critical need of support to build icebreakers, surface vessels and submarines.
-
Royal New Zealand Navy outlines modernisation goals
The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has a crunch time coming up as it looks to refresh its fleet before 2040, and prepares to begin operating Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters, although it is at the back of a long ordering queue. A key part of any solution is looking at what neighbouring Australia is buying.
-
US Coast Guard awards contracts for the construction of up to 150 aids to navigation vessels
Agreements with Inventech Marine Solutions and North River Boats cover the acquisition of trailerable aids to navigation boats and cutter boats - aids to navigation – small.