Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers have been added to the Naval Combat Systems Integration Support Service (NCSISS), QinetiQ has confirmed.
The NCSISS dates back to 2012, and it has been delivered by BAE Systems and QinetiQ and in collaboration with Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) ever since. The service removes risk in the development, integration and testing of ship mission systems and enables the Royal Navy to deploy and take full advantage of the latest technologies.
The £9 million contract extension will see the Royal Navy’s flagship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, and its sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, added to the advanced systems testing and evaluation programmes being delivered by QinetiQ and its partners based at Portsdown Technology Park.
According to Steve Fitz-Gerald, QinetiQ Managing Director of Maritime, Land and Weapons: “The success of the NCSISS has enabled us and our partners to ensure the UK Royal Navy’s surface fleet is at peak operational performance at all times. Receiving confirmation of the contract extension which includes the largest warships in the Fleet demonstrates the unique capabilities, resources and expertise we have at Portsdown Technology Park.”
Jo Osburn, Head of Maritime Combat Systems at Defence Equipment and Support added: “Extending the NCSISS arrangement to include the Queen Elizabeth-Class aircraft carriers has provided a facility to test and assure new capabilities ahead of instillation into the platform.
“QinetiQ’s role in supporting the Combat System Enterprise through NCSISS will enable agile Operational Support to this new class of warship for her current equipment, as well as de-risking the addition of the new systems and equipment planned in the near to medium term”
The contract extension for the two aircraft carriers will cover a range of advanced communications systems for the planning and delivery of joint air and maritime activities and other critical operations. The work will also cover the combat management systems and weapon control systems, as is already the case with other platforms in the Royal Navy’s surface fleet.
Image courtesy of Ian Stewart / Shutterstock.com
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