AEUK And Babcock Forge Closer Ties For Submarine Systems

Marine electronics experts Atlas Elektronik UK (AEUK) is building closer ties with shipbuilding firm Babcock with a view to providing enhanced support for Royal Navy submarines.

AEUK is the domestic arm of Atlas Elektronik, a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). Formalising an existing collaborative partnership, last week it signed a commercial framework agreement (CFA) with Babcock International Group, establishing itself as a preferred supply partner.

The CFA, signed by AEUK’s Head of Service Division Samy Mehsen and Babcock’s Supply Chain and Logistics Director David Tytherleigh, will see the two firms collaborate on a number of projects. Most notably, the deal will help the firms cooperate on work programmes and technical support for systems inside the Royal Navy’s Astute-class and Vanguard-class submarines.

Babcock’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer John Howie commented: “Babcock and Atlas Elektronik UK have complimentary capabilities that can combine to deliver critical outcomes to our customers.

“We previously signalled our intent for a deeper and more collaborative relationship with the signing of a charter, and I’m delighted that this has been followed up with the signing of a commercial framework that puts our intent into action.

“Our relationship demonstrates strong collaboration across the maritime enterprise, delivering for defence and our purpose of creating a safe and secure world, together.”

And AEUK chairman John Weale added: “This agreement will facilitate greater collaboration across the support enterprise, and in the development of new and enhanced capabilities for ships and submarines by bringing together the experience and knowledge from the two companies at an earlier stage of equipment development.

“The strategic intent for supporting the Royal Navy is evolving: they require a support ecosystem that balances the need for a sustainable sovereign capability with commercial opportunities that delivers agile, global warship support.

“This is being delivered through the Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) programme and this framework between Babcock and AEUK will deliver the necessary efficiency and agility to support this strategic aim.”

• You can find out more about the firms on the AEUK website and the Babcock International Group website