BAE Systems hands out more Type 26 supply contracts

British shipbuilder BAE Systems announced Wednesday that it has awarded further manufacturing equipment contracts for the Type 26 Global Combat Ship.

With the contracts awarded to six companies, the total investment to date in the Type 26 supply chain was brought to more than £380m, BAE Systems said.

The new contracts include among others steering systems, doors, davit system and mooring equipment for the first three ships.

Rolls-Royce will be in charge of delivering the steering gears and stabilisers, Johnsons Controls Ltd, will work on the chilled water plants while Marine Systems Technology Ltd is to deliver gastight, weathertight and watertight doors, hatches and scuttles and the Hangar XY crane.

Salt Separation Services received a contract for reverse osmosis desalination plants and Spanish-based Detegasa will provide membrane sewage treatment plants and oily water separators. MEP – Pellegrini Marine Equipments S.r.l. was contracted for the anchor handling and mooring equipment, boat davit, and radar cross section screen closures.

BAE Systems’ Combat Systems team also received a contract to deliver the ships’ shared infrastructure and the electro-optical sensors control system (EOSCS), which is the ‘eyes of the ship’, able to detect and identify potential threats in all weather conditions.

Geoff Searle, BAE Systems’ Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme director, said: “The progress of our partners in the supply chain is a crucial aspect of making sure we are ready to cut steel on our first of class next summer. Agreeing these contracts now will ensure our suppliers are on track to deliver equipment to Glasgow at the point it is required in the manufacturing phase.”

Nick Antoniades, Rolls-Royce, programme executive Type 26 said: “Following on from our success in winning the contracts to supply MT30 Gas Turbines and MTU diesel generators to the Type 26 programme we are delighted to be selected to provide steering gear and stabilisers.”

“The timely contract award has set the wheels in motion for the manufacturing phase of the programme, enabling Rolls-Royce to procure long lead items to support BAE Systems’ Type 26 ship build schedule.”