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QinetiQ extends essential combat system support to Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers

Published on: 18 Dec 2018

QinetiQ has extended essential combat system support to Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers in a deal worth an extra £9 million.

The new 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 the QinetiQ and its partners’ team of specialists based at Portsdown Technology Park.

This comes after the company announced a £23 million redevelopment project to create a new UK Centre of Excellence for Maritime Mission Systems near Portsmouth earlier this year.

Steve Fitz-Gerald, QinetiQ’s managing director of maritime, land and weapons, revealed that the success of the Naval Combat Systems Integration Support Service (NCSISS) enabled the firm to ensure the UK Royal Navy’s surface fleet remains at peak operational performance at all times.

He added that the contract extension validates the unique capabilities, resources and expertise at Portsdown Technology Park.

“It is also very timely news as we progress with our plans to extend our capabilities and create a truly world class centre for innovation, integration and testing of Maritime Mission Systems,” Mr Fitz-Gerald commented.

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 Royal Navy’s new Type 26 Global Combat Ships are due to enter service in the 2020s.