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)
The UK MoD has awarded JFD a contract worth £20million for capability support for the Astute-class submarines.
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
-
![Future frigate programme highlights broader RNZN replacement challenge]()
Future frigate programme highlights broader RNZN replacement challenge
New Zealand’s evaluation of the Mogami and Arrowhead 140 frigate designs reflects a wider push for alliance interoperability, and points to a larger recapitalisation of the Royal New Zealand Navy fleet beyond the current programme.
-
![Armada 2050: can Spain deliver its naval transformation?]()
Armada 2050: can Spain deliver its naval transformation?
Spain’s naval modernisation drive is moving from concept to contracts, with RfIs and RfPs expected before the end of the decade, despite second-batch frigate and submarine numbers remaining undecided.
-
![Ireland’s strategic cable role grows as naval capacity falls behind]()
Ireland’s strategic cable role grows as naval capacity falls behind
Around 75% of the northern hemisphere’s undersea cables transit Irish waters, but personnel shortfalls and a stalled multirole vessel programme leave patrol capacity in question.
