UK: Babcock to Equip Three Final Astute Class Subs

Babcock has been awarded a £4.8 million contract by BAE Systems to supply actuators and positioning sensing arrays for the fifth, sixth and seventh Astute class submarines. The contract represents optimum value to the UK MoD by combining the requirements for all three submarines in a single contract, enabling cost reductions to be generated.

Babcock will supply three sets of control surface hydraulic actuators (five per submarine); two for the aft hydroplane, one for the forward hydroplane and two for the rudder, plus five positioning sensing arrays per boat set. Under the two and a half year programme of works, Babcock will procure the components, and assemble and functionally test the units, which will then be delivered to BAE Systems in line with the submarine build programme. Babcock has also supplied this equipment for Astute submarines one to four, under previous contracts.

By combining these requirements for the three final Astute class submarines under one contract, Babcock has been able to achieve cost reductions of around 15% compared to an individual boat-set price. This has been achieved by securing economies of scale in materials bought from the supply chain, and by optimising the project management and assembly time.

Commenting on the contract award Babcock Support Manager Stuart Farrell said: “We are pleased to have been awarded this contract, which follows on from the equipment successfully delivered by Babcock for boats one to four, and demonstrates the value of our good, long-term relations with BAE Systems.”

Assembly and test of these items will take place from late 2013 for around 12 months. The first boat sets will be delivered in early 2015.

[mappress]
Press Release, September 25, 2013; Image: BAE Systems