SEA receives ECS order for Royal Navy submarines
Cohort company, SEA, will deliver external communications equipment for the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet, with detailed design and long lead procurement work to be conducted under a £23 million contract announced on 14 November. The contract has been awarded by BAE Systems on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
SEA’s External Communications System (ECS) provides a fully-networked capability above and below the water based around open, modular and highly secure architecture with advanced remote control capabilities. Being open architecture, the system can be enhanced as new technologies emerge in future.
ECS will be rolled out across the UK submarine fleet, with this contract covering phase one of a two phase project. SEA expects a further significant order for the ECS system on Royal Navy submarines in 2015.
Steve Hill, managing director, SEA, said: ‘SEA is delighted to have been chosen by prime contractor BAE Systems to deliver this system. It is the culmination of fifteen years hard work, often in close partnership with the Royal Navy. Our appointment demonstrates that the MoD policy to support procurement from small innovative companies is paying off – bringing enhanced capabilities and reducing the cost of delivering an advanced and highly capable navy.’
Paul Beavis, submarines’ combat systems director, BAE Systems, added: ‘We have worked closely with SEA since the Astute Class competition and it’s great to see this step-change in communications design being rolled out to operational submarines.
‘With this open design, the evolution of submarines’ communications now looks really exciting and we look forward to pulling through the emerging technologies that will keep submarines at the forefront of our defence capability well into the future.’
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![Airbus launches final CSO observation satellite for French Armed Forces]()
Airbus launches final CSO observation satellite for French Armed Forces
Airbus was awarded the Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) contract at the end of 2010. This included an option for a third satellite, which was activated after Germany joined the programme in 2015.
-
![Intelligence advantage: How real-time GEOINT is reshaping military decision-making (Studio)]()
Intelligence advantage: How real-time GEOINT is reshaping military decision-making (Studio)
In today’s contested operational environment, adaptability is key. The new Geospatial-Intelligence as a Service (GEO IaaS) solution from Fujitsu and MAIAR empowers militaries by enabling intelligence advantage, combining advanced technology with human expertise to deliver actionable insights.
-
![Israel sets up new department to boost development of AI and autonomy]()
Israel sets up new department to boost development of AI and autonomy
Israel will continue to develop autonomy for its weapons and platforms as it brings together defence personnel, academia and industry.
-
![Clavister contracted to supply cyber protection for CV90s]()
Clavister contracted to supply cyber protection for CV90s
Clavister CyberArmour, an integrated defence cybersecurity system, will be used on BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 platform in deployments with a Scandinavian country, as well as in an eastern European nation.
-
![Lockheed Martin completes tactical satellite demonstration and prepares for launch]()
Lockheed Martin completes tactical satellite demonstration and prepares for launch
The tactical satellite (TacSat) is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system and will participate in exercises in 2025.
-
![AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family]()
AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family
The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.
