• Airbus Defence and Space to upgrade communications systems on UK vessels over the next four years
• Increased capability and more flexible services included in £ 36 m contract

Airbus Defence and Space has been awarded the Maritime Network Evolution contract with the UK Ministry of Defence. The contract value amounts to £ 36 million, and will cover the communications networks of 20 Royal Navy warships, including Type 45 Destroyers and Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, upgraded over the next four years.

This solution creates the Internet Protocol backbone of the future Maritime Architecture and extends the life of the military satcom well into the middle of the next decade. It will remove obsolete equipment, remove the dependency of serial services and allow platforms to have the ability to select their own communication bearers for operations. This programme has been achieved without having to compromise any of the key military requirements needed by our Royal Navy warships to defend against any major threat scenario, whilst keeping them at the forefront of modern technology.

“For more than a decade now we have provided the UK with Maritime Communications capability. With this evolution programme we continue delivering the most advanced capabilities possible to the Royal Navy”, said Richard Franklin, Head of Secure Communications, Airbus Defence and Space. “This programme is an example of how efficient Airbus Defence and Space is working with the UK MOD to refresh existing technologies, keeping the infrastructure up to date and providing future proof and engineer enhanced solutions.”