Construction of a new naval testing facility at the Portsdown Technology Park (PTP) in Portsmouth, UK, is set to begin soon, UK defense technology company Qinetiq announced as it unveiled the facility’s design.
Together with the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Qinetiq is investing £23m in the redevelopment project that will create up to 100 jobs.
The new building, funded with £18m by QinetiQ and £5m by Solent LEP, is set to increase the site’s capacity and transform it into a UK Centre of Excellence for Maritime Mission Systems, the company said.
An innovation and collaboration hub, sponsored by the Solent LEP as part of the redevelopment, will offer opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to attract local talent and develop maritime mission system offerings for UK and international markets.
News of the investment follows the announcement in September 2017 that QinetiQ is to provide combat systems expertise for the Royal Navy’s future Type 26 Global Combat Ships at Portsdown Technology Park. The £8m deal with the Royal Navy is an amendment to the existing Naval Combat System Integration Support Services (NCSISS) contract, first signed in 2012 and renewed at £110m for a further 11 years in 2016.
Under the NCSISS contract, QinetiQ develops and de-risks Royal Navy mission systems and infrastructure through integration and testing at Portsdown. Current site activities sustain around 280 jobs operating in collaboration with the Royal Navy, Defence Equipment & Support and BAE Systems.
For over 45 years, Portsdown Technology Park (PTP) has integrated and tested combat and communications equipment and software for all Royal Navy warships prior to their deployment at sea. Recent examples of technology that has been tested and integrated with existing equipment using facilities at PTP include BAE Systems’ Artisan surveillance radar and MBDA’s Sea Ceptor Air Defence System.