UK Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has entered into a significant partnership with BAE Systems, awarding the defense contractor a contract valued at £285 million ($354.7 million) to enhance the combat management systems on a range of Royal Navy warships. This comprehensive deal encompasses maintenance and upgrade services for several classes of naval vessels, including the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, Type 23 Duke-class frigates, Type 26 City-class frigates, and Type 45 Daring-class destroyers.
The contract will focus on a variety of critical technologies that are crucial for modern naval operations. This includes weapon systems and sensor integration solutions alongside the necessary infrastructure and network capabilities. These systems will play a vital role in tactical strategies that involve situational awareness, threat assessments, armament assignments, control operations, navigation, and automated pilotage.
Over the next eight years, with an option for two additional years, BAE Systems will implement logistical support, obsolescence management, and ensure the availability and reliability of technologies at various installations. This program is known as the Real-time Combat System Open Data Enablers (RECODE) program and continues a relationship that has lasted for more than a decade between BAE Systems and the British military. The company’s combat management systems have been installed on Royal Navy fleets for approximately 25 years, showcasing a long-standing commitment to enhancing naval capabilities.
Steve Carter, Director of Naval Ships Combat Systems at BAE Systems, expressed that the RECODE program marks a significant advancement in their collaborative efforts with the Royal Navy, aiming to develop the warfare capabilities of the future. “The global threat picture, advances in commercial technology, and the immense volume of data available to crews means we need to become even more ambitious and far-reaching in our services and support,” Carter stated. He emphasized the importance of this program in enhancing the Navy’s operational adaptability.
The DE&S also indicated that the RECODE program is set to create over 200 job opportunities across multiple UK locations, including Dorchester, Filton, Frimley, New Malden, and Portsmouth. The initiative will also promote further investments into local small and medium enterprises as well as suppliers throughout the UK.
Cdre. Phil Game, Interim Director of DE&S Sense, Decide and Communicate, highlighted the importance of this program in maintaining the operational readiness of existing combat management systems on in-service Royal Navy vessels. He noted that the initiative would ensure the core systems are robust, flexible, and always up-to-date, while also focusing on upskilling the workforce involved in the program and sustaining jobs across the UK.
As this program unfolds, it signals a strong commitment to enhancing the UK’s naval capabilities and solidifying the integration of advanced technological solutions within the Royal Navy’s operational framework.
