Royal Navy contracts Ultra Electronics for more Merlin Mk2 sonobuoys

The Royal Navy has awarded British technology company Ultra Electronics a £9.7m contract extension for the supply and production of sonobuoys for the Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk2 maritime patrol helicopter fleet.

The company announced Wednesday that its Command & Sonar Systems sonobuoy facility, based in Greenford, Middlesex, will be working on the contract.

Ultra was initially awarded a contract in 2015 to supply sonobuoys for the Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk2. The latest contract extension will provide the Royal Navy with means of maintaining a persistent anti submarine warfare surveillance capability against hostile submarines. It also enables Ultra to support future technology capability insertion and international collaboration.

“Ultra is delighted to have secured an extension to this important contract,” Rakesh Sharma, chief executive of Ultra commented. “Our longstanding partnership with the Merlin project team has allowed us to sustain and further develop the nation’s airborne anti-submarine warfare capability, preserving a key battle-winning advantage for UK armed forces.”