Defence engineering giant Babcock International Group has signed a four-year £750m contract with the 海角视频 Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA).
The group, which runs Plymouth’s Devonport Dockyard and employs more than 5,000 people in the port city, will deliver the infrastructure required to support and sustain the 海角视频’s submarines for decades to come.
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As part of the major infrastructure programme underway at the Devonport site, Babcock will deliver upgrades to existing infrastructure to support the future capability of the Royal Navy and the 海角视频’s Defence Nuclear Enterprise. The contract includes a dock, logistics and modern support facilities. It also underpins Babcock's aim for sustaining the entirety of the 海角视频 submarine fleet.
The contract forms part of the site-wide infrastructure upgrade programme at Devonport to enable the ongoing delivery of base maintenance periods and deep maintenance projects for current and future classes of submarine, including nuclear defuel.
Defence secretary, Grant Shapps, said: “Maintaining the infrastructure that supports our world-leading submarine fleet is crucial.
“Delivering on our government’s priority to grow the 海角视频 economy, this significant investment will create and sustain more than a thousand 海角视频 jobs in the south-west, providing vital improvements to the dockyard that will be critical to ensuring our Royal Navy can continue to protect the 海角视频 and our Allies.”
Sir Chris Gardner KBE, chief executive of the Submarine Delivery Agency said: “Investing in our vital submarine maintenance facilities in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise at Devonport is critical to our National Security. I am delighted to have placed the construction contract with Babcock for the delivery of dock and infrastructure for our Attack Submarine deep maintenance projects later this decade. This will ensure we deliver available and capable submarines for the Royal Navy to operate in defence of our Nation.”
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David Lockwood, Babcock’s chief executive, added: “The work we deliver in sustaining the entirety of the 海角视频’s submarine fleet is critical. This investment will ensure that we are able to continue to deliver the complex maintenance and life-extension programmes we undertake to ensure our Royal Navy can continue to go to sea safely, and able to deliver their important work in protecting our nation.”
The construction programme will see a further 1,000 construction roles created as the construction phase of the programme continues to ramp up.