UK-based defense technology company Babcock announced it has been awarded a contract extension to manufacture a further 18 tactical missile tube assemblies for the joint US-UK common missile compartment project that will be shared by the two countries’ nuclear deterrent submarines.
The multimillion pound contract was awarded by General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), the main contractor on the US Navy’s Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program.
The next generation of Royal Navy ballistic missile submarines, the Dreadnought-class, is being delivered by BAE Systems.
Babcock is delivering the missile tube assemblies that are part of the common missile compartment that will launch new ballistic missiles that will eventually replace the Trident missiles.
“This is a prime example of the capability of our defense industry to deliver specialized and complex manufacturing in support of an internationally significant program,” UK defense minister, Jeremy Quin, said commenting the contract award. “The contract extension will support 200 highly-skilled jobs in Bristol and Rosyth, building next-generation technology for our vital nuclear deterrent.”
Since 2014, Babcock has successfully secured competitive contracts with GDEB to manufacture 57 MTAs. This brings the total number of tactical MTAs that will be manufactured by Babcock for Electric Boat to 75, and will see Babcock’s work transition from the UK Dreadnought to the US Columbia program.
John Howie, Chief Executive of Marine at Babcock, said: “We’re delighted to be awarded this contract extension, which is testament to the skills and capability of our workforce, as well as the quality of product we are delivering. This work will help support more than 200 cutting-edge manufacturing roles at Rosyth and Bristol until at least 2026.”
