BAE Systems Maritime – Maritime Services

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BAE Systems Maritime Services
Company typePrivate
IndustryDefence
Marine engineering
Manufacturing
PredecessorBAE Systems Insyte
Fleet Support Limited
Founded2012
Headquarters
Portsmouth
,
United Kingdom
ProductsArtisan 3D Radar
Pacific 24 RIB
Spearfish Torpedo
Number of employees
~3500
ParentBAE Systems Surface Ships Limited
Websitewww.baesystems.com

BAE Systems Maritime – Maritime Services is a wholly owned subsidiary company of BAE Systems, specialising in the repair and maintenance of Royal Navy vessels, as well as product development, naval training and through life support for radar, torpedoes and small boats.[1] Along with BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines and BAE Systems Maritime – Naval Ships, it is one of three divisions of BAE Systems Maritime.

History

Maritime Services was originally formed as Fleet Support Limited (FSL), a joint venture between GEC-Marconi and Vosper Thornycroft (now VT Group). GEC's 50% share passed to its successor BAE Systems in 1999. In July 2008 BAE Systems and VT Group merged their military ship repair businesses to form BVT Surface Fleet. In 2009 the company was renamed BAE Systems Surface Ships Support Limited, with complete ownership passing to BAE Systems. In January 2012, BAE Systems Surface Ships Support was restructured, joining with parts of BAE Systems Insyte to become BAE Systems Maritime – Maritime Services.

Products and Services

Engineering Services

Maritime Services has an Engineering Services division which provides services including support engineering, design services and energy solutions.[2][3] Its Energy team worked with the Royal Navy to construct a Combined Heat and Power plant in Portsmouth Naval Base, which provides low carbon power for naval vessels.[4][5]

Manufacturing

Maritime Services carries out advanced manufacturing operations at Broad Oak in Portsmouth, Cowes on the Isle of Wight, Great Baddow in Essex and Hillend in Fife.[6] It develops, tests, assembles and integrates a wide range of technologies for both commercial and military electronics markets, including missile seekers and avionics equipment[7]

Naval Base Services

Maritime Services manages Portsmouth Naval Base as part of KBS Maritime, a joint venture with KBR. It provides services such as strategic estate management, infrastructure programme delivery and the provision of operations, maintenance and alongside services.[8]

Radar

Artisan Type 997 Radar installed on HMS Argyll

Maritime Services has developed radars for both the Royal Navy and other customers. Principal products include the Type 997 Artisan radar[9] and the SAMPSON radar.[10] In November 2017, Maritime Services was awarded a five-year, £18m contract to support the long-range radar equipment on the UK's six Type 45 destroyers.[11] In June 2023, it was awarded a ten year contract to support the three main radar systems used across the Royal Navy Fleet and to develop the next generation of radar technology.[12][13]

Small Boats

Maritime Services manufactures and supports a range of specialist high-speed military craft, including Rigid Inflatable Boats and Fast Attack Craft. These boats are used by Special Forces, navies, armies, air forces and governments in over 40 countries around the world. Principal products include the Pacific 24 and Pacific 950 Rigid Inflatable Boats.

Training

Maritime Services provides a range of shore-based training facilities, using a mix of computer-based training, real equipment and high-fidelity simulators, which minimise the need for on-board training. Principal training facilities include the Maritime Composite Training Facility (MCTS)[14] and the Astute Class Training Service (ACTS).[15]

Underwater Weapons

Sting Ray Torpedo (Training Variant) being fired by HMS Westminster

Maritime Services designs, manufactures and supports a wide range of underwater weapons and autonomous underwater vehicles, including Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes, Stingray lightweight torpedoes and Archerfish expendable mine neutralisers. Currently, Maritime Services is undertaking a £270 million programme to upgrade the Spearfish torpedo. The upgrade includes a new insensitive-munition warhead from TDW, a change to the fuel system to improve safety, full digitisation of the weapon and a new fibre optic guidance link to improve performance.[16] The upgraded torpedoes will enter service between 2020 and 2024.[17]

Warship Support

Maritime Services is responsible for delivering end to end services and support to over 50% of the Royal Navy's surface fleet. Ships supported include the Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates, Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels, River-class offshore patrol vessels and Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.[18] It will also support the Type 31 frigates when they enter service in the mid-2020s.[19] Maritime Services is part of an alliance with Cammell Laird and consultancy firm BMT that is contracted to resolve ongoing Type 45 power generation issues caused by unreliable Northrop Grumman intercoolers.[20][21][22][23] In 2022, it signed an agreement with Qatar's Barzan Maintenance Shield to work together to deliver Warship Support and Naval Base Management Services for the Qatar Emiri Naval Force.[24]

References

  1. ^ "Maritime Services". BAE Systems | United Kingdom. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  2. ^ "New software could transform ship maintenance". BAE Systems | International. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Engineering services". BAE Systems | United Kingdom. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Full steam ahead for new power plant at Portsmouth Naval Base". BAE Systems | International. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Three environmental care award wins for HM Naval Base Portsmouth". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  6. ^ "The state of UK Defence - BAE Systems and MBDA". The Manufacturer. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Manufacturing Assembly Integration and Test Service". BAE Systems | United Kingdom. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  8. ^ Mishra, Baibhav (2 April 2021). "BAE Systems secures Future Maritime Support Programme contracts worth over £1 billion". Sea News Global Maritime News. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Artisan 3D radar system passes sea-based acceptance trials". BAE Systems | International. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  10. ^ "UK MoD awards new Royal Navy contracts to Babcock and BAE Systems". Naval Technology. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Defence Minister returns to Chelmsford to announce £18m contract to support Royal Navy radar systems - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  12. ^ Allison, George (12 June 2023). "Royal Navy radars get £270m support deal". Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  13. ^ "UK's specialist radar workforce receives £270 million boost". GOV.UK. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Royal Navy - Warfare Training Facility - Maritime Composite Training Facility (MCTS) - n2a7 - Armed Forces". www.armedforces.co.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  15. ^ "Astute Class Training Service". BAE Systems | International. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  16. ^ "BAE Systems Maritime". BAE Systems | International. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  17. ^ Chuter, Andrew (15 December 2014). "Royal Navy Subs To Get Upgraded Spearfish Torpedo". Defense News. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  18. ^ "WATCH: BAE Systems managers tell of their pride in HMS Queen Elizabeth". www.portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  19. ^ "Royal Navy chiefs launch scathing attack on the government for Britain's 'anorexic'". www.portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  20. ^ Allison, George (22 March 2018). "BAE, Cammell Laird and BMT team up to finally resolve Type 45 Destroyer power issues". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  21. ^ "Northrop Grumman/Rolls-Royce Team Selected as Preferred Supplier". www.defense-aerospace.com. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  22. ^ "WR-21 gamble pays off. Rand to study UK naval programme". www.readabstracts.com. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  23. ^ "Putting the Type 45 propulsion problems in perspective". Save the Royal Navy. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  24. ^ Allison, George (25 March 2022). "BAE sign major deal to support Qatari naval base and warships". Retrieved 25 March 2022.
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