BAE Systems Maritime – Maritime Services

BAE Systems Maritime – Maritime Services is a wholly owned BAE Systems subsidiary and one of the three principal divisions within BAE Systems Maritime, alongside Maritime – Submarines and Maritime – Naval Ships. Its work is centered on the operational support, maintenance, upgrading and technical development of naval platforms and systems, particularly for the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. The division’s activities extend well beyond conventional ship repair. It provides through-life support for surface warships, radar systems, torpedoes and specialist boats; engineering and design services; naval training; advanced manufacturing; and estate, infrastructure and alongside services at naval bases. Its support portfolio covers a substantial part of the Royal Navy surface fleet, including Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates, Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels, River-class offshore patrol vessels and Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. The organization developed from Fleet Support Limited, a joint venture originally associated with GEC-Marconi and Vosper Thornycroft. BAE Systems inherited GEC-Marconi’s interest in 1999. In 2008, BAE Systems and VT Group combined their military ship-repair operations into BVT Surface Fleet. The business was renamed BAE Systems Surface Ships Support in 2009, when ownership transferred entirely to BAE Systems. A further restructuring in January 2012 brought the support organization together with parts of BAE Systems Insyte under the present BAE Systems Maritime – Maritime Services identity. Its engineering portfolio includes support engineering, design, energy and infrastructure solutions. In Portsmouth, the energy team worked with the Royal Navy on a combined heat and power plant intended to provide lower-carbon power for naval vessels and the wider naval-base environment. The division also operates advanced manufacturing activities at Broad Oak in Portsmouth, Cowes on the Isle of Wight, Great Baddow in Essex and Hillend in Fife. These facilities develop, test, assemble and integrate technologies for military and commercial electronics applications, including missile seekers and avionics equipment. Sensors are another important area. Maritime Services has developed and supported radar systems used by the Royal Navy and other customers, including variants of the Type 997 Artisan radar, the SAMPSON radar and the Commander SL long-range tactical air-defence radar. Its support responsibilities include both in-service maintenance and technology development for future naval requirements. The division also manufactures and supports specialist high-speed craft, including rigid inflatable boats and fast attack craft. Its Pacific 24 and Pacific 950 boats are used by military and government customers in more than 40 countries, serving applications associated with special forces, naval operations, maritime security and other government missions. Its training business combines shore-based instruction, computer-based learning, actual equipment and high-fidelity simulation. Facilities include the Maritime Composite Training Facility and the Astute Class Training Service. In the underwater-weapons field, Maritime Services designs, manufactures and supports Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes, Sting Ray lightweight torpedoes, Herne extra-large unmanned underwater vehicles and Archerfish expendable mine-neutralization systems. A major Spearfish modernization program is intended to improve safety, guidance, digitization and warhead capability, followed by planned work on Sting Ray. The organization also participates in naval-base management through KBS Maritime, a joint venture with KBR, and has worked with Qatar’s Barzan Maintenance Shield on warship support and naval-base management for the Qatar Emiri Naval Force.

BAE Systems Maritime – Maritime Services traces its organizational history to Fleet Support Limited, a joint venture formed by GEC-Marconi and Vosper Thornycroft. The venture was established to undertake naval fleet-support and ship-repair work. When GEC-Marconi’s interests passed to BAE Systems in 1999, BAE Systems became a participant in the business and inherited a stake in its activities. A major structural change took place in July 2008, when BAE Systems and VT Group combined their military ship-repair businesses. The resulting organization was called BVT Surface Fleet. The combination brought together capabilities associated with the maintenance and support of naval surface vessels, with the intention of creating a more consolidated provider for the United Kingdom’s military ship-support requirements. In 2009, the company adopted the name BAE Systems Surface Ships Support. At the same time, ownership passed fully to BAE Systems, ending the earlier joint-venture structure. The business continued to focus on the repair, maintenance and support of naval surface ships and related systems. In January 2012, BAE Systems reorganized the operation again. BAE Systems Surface Ships Support was combined with relevant parts of BAE Systems Insyte, creating BAE Systems Maritime – Maritime Services. The new organization became one of three divisions within BAE Systems Maritime. The other two divisions were Maritime – Submarines and Maritime – Naval Ships, giving BAE Systems Maritime separate organizational homes for submarine work, naval-ship construction and maritime support services. The division’s role subsequently broadened into an integrated through-life-support organization. Its warship-support responsibilities include repair, maintenance, engineering and operational support for more than half of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet. Supported classes include Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates, Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels, River-class offshore patrol vessels and Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. It has also been involved in efforts to address Type 45 power-generation reliability problems through an alliance with Cammell Laird and BMT. Maritime Services operates across several technical and geographic centers in the United Kingdom. Its engineering work covers support engineering, design and energy solutions. In Portsmouth, its energy team worked with the Royal Navy to construct a combined heat and power plant designed to provide lower-carbon power for naval vessels. Its advanced manufacturing locations at Broad Oak in Portsmouth, Cowes on the Isle of Wight, Great Baddow in Essex and Hillend in Fife develop, test, assemble and integrate electronic and defense technologies such as missile seekers and avionics equipment. Radar became a significant part of the organization’s portfolio through products and support activities involving Type 997 Artisan, SAMPSON and Commander SL long-range tactical air-defence radar systems. In 2017, the business received a five-year contract to support long-range radar equipment on the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 destroyers. In 2023, it received a ten-year contract covering support for three main radar systems across the Royal Navy fleet as well as development of future radar technology. The organization also supplies specialist small boats, training services and underwater weapons. Its Pacific 24 and Pacific 950 rigid inflatable boats and other fast craft are used by government and military customers in more than 40 countries. Training facilities combine classroom and computer-based instruction with equipment and high-fidelity simulation. Underwater systems include Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes, Sting Ray lightweight torpedoes, Herne extra-large unmanned underwater vehicles and Archerfish mine-neutralization systems. A major modernization effort has been undertaken for the Spearfish heavyweight torpedo. The program includes a new insensitive-munitions warhead, a revised fuel system, comprehensive digitization and a fiber-optic guidance link. The upgraded weapon is intended for operational use across Royal Navy submarines, with subsequent modernization planned for Sting Ray. Beyond the United Kingdom, Maritime Services has expanded its naval-support relationships, including a 2022 agreement with Qatar’s Barzan Maintenance Shield covering warship support and naval-base management. It also manages Portsmouth Naval Base services through KBS Maritime, a joint venture with KBR.

1. 2023Long-term Royal Navy radar agreement awarded

   Maritime Services received a ten-year agreement to support three major Royal Navy radar systems and develop next-generation radar technology.

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2. 2022Qatar naval-support collaboration announced

   The division agreed to work with Barzan Maintenance Shield on warship support and naval-base management for the Qatar Emiri Naval Force.

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3. 2017Type 45 radar-support contract awarded

   Maritime Services received a five-year, £18 million contract to support long-range radar equipment on the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 destroyers.

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4. 2012BAE Systems Maritime – Maritime Services is created

   BAE Systems Surface Ships Support was restructured with elements of BAE Systems Insyte to create the present Maritime Services division.

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5. 2009Business becomes BAE Systems Surface Ships Support

   The organization was renamed BAE Systems Surface Ships Support and became wholly owned by BAE Systems.

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6. 2008Military ship-repair businesses combine as BVT Surface Fleet

   BAE Systems and VT Group merged their military ship-repair businesses to form BVT Surface Fleet.

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7. 1999BAE Systems inherits GEC-Marconi’s interest in Fleet Support Limited

   Following the succession of GEC-Marconi by BAE Systems, BAE Systems acquired its predecessor’s share in the Fleet Support Limited joint venture.

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An integrated naval-support and maritime-technology provider focused on keeping warships, naval systems and associated infrastructure operational throughout their service lives.

• Type 997 Artisan radarNaval radar

  A family of naval surveillance and tracking radars developed and supported for Royal Navy and other maritime applications. Maritime Services’ role includes in-service support and participation in wider radar-technology development.

• SAMPSON radarNaval radar

  A naval radar system associated with air-defence and surveillance roles on major warships. It forms part of the radar portfolio supported by Maritime Services for naval customers.

• Commander SL radarLong-range tactical air-defence radar

  A long-range tactical air-defence radar system included in the division’s radar-support and manufacturing portfolio. It is designed for detection and tracking tasks relevant to military air-defence operations.

• Pacific 24Rigid inflatable boat

  A specialist high-speed rigid inflatable boat used by naval, military, special-forces and government customers. The platform is intended for missions requiring rapid deployment, boarding, patrol, personnel movement and support around larger vessels.

• Pacific 950Rigid inflatable boat

  A larger specialist rigid inflatable boat in the Pacific family. It is manufactured and supported for international military and government users and forms part of the division’s high-speed maritime-craft offering.

• SpearfishHeavyweight torpedo

  A heavyweight submarine-launched torpedo designed for naval underwater-warfare missions. Maritime Services is undertaking a major modernization program involving a new insensitive-munitions warhead, revised fuel arrangements, digital systems and a fiber-optic guidance link.

• Sting RayLightweight torpedo

  A lightweight torpedo designed for naval anti-submarine warfare applications. The system is manufactured and supported by Maritime Services, with modernization work planned following the Spearfish upgrade program.

• HerneExtra-large unmanned underwater vehicle

  An extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle included in the division’s autonomous underwater-systems portfolio. It represents Maritime Services’ work in undersea vehicles in addition to conventional torpedoes.

• ArcherfishMine-neutralization system

  An expendable mine-neutralization system for underwater mine-countermeasure operations. It complements the division’s broader portfolio of underwater weapons and autonomous maritime technologies.

• Maritime Composite Training FacilityNaval training system

  A shore-based training facility that combines computer-based learning, real equipment and simulation to prepare naval personnel while reducing the need for some onboard training activity.

• Astute Class Training ServiceSubmarine training service

  A training service supporting Astute-class submarine personnel through shore-based instruction and simulation-based methods.

• 2023Support current Royal Navy radars and develop next-generation technologyGeneration change

  The Royal Navy required long-term support for three principal radar systems while preparing for future radar capabilities.

  What changed. Maritime Services received a ten-year agreement covering support for the three systems and development of next-generation radar technology.

  Aftermath. The agreement linked current fleet sustainment with future radar development within a single long-term support relationship.

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• 2017Secure Type 45 long-range radar supportOther

  The Royal Navy required continuing support for long-range radar equipment fitted to its six Type 45 destroyers.

  What changed. Maritime Services accepted a five-year support contract valued at £18 million.

  Aftermath. The agreement extended the division’s in-service support role for a key Royal Navy destroyer sensor capability.

  Contract value. £18 million (Five-year contract announced in November 2017)

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• 2012Create an integrated Maritime Services divisionStrategy

  BAE Systems reorganized its surface-ship support and relevant Insyte activities to consolidate maritime support, systems and service capabilities.

  What changed. BAE Systems Surface Ships Support was combined with parts of BAE Systems Insyte under the BAE Systems Maritime – Maritime Services structure.

  Aftermath. The resulting division became the support-focused arm of BAE Systems Maritime, alongside the company’s submarine and naval-ship divisions.

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• 2008Combine military ship-repair operations with VT GroupM&A

  BAE Systems and VT Group held overlapping military ship-repair activities and pursued a combined structure for surface-fleet support.

  What changed. The companies merged their military ship-repair businesses into BVT Surface Fleet.

  Aftermath. The business was renamed BAE Systems Surface Ships Support in 2009, and full ownership subsequently passed to BAE Systems.

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• 2023BAE Systems awarded ten-year Royal Navy radar support and development contract

  The division was awarded a ten-year agreement covering support for three principal radar systems used across the Royal Navy fleet and development of next-generation radar technology.

  Product generationOther
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• 2022BAE Systems and Qatar’s Barzan Maintenance Shield agree warship-support collaboration

  Maritime Services signed an agreement with Barzan Maintenance Shield to cooperate on warship support and naval-base management services for the Qatar Emiri Naval Force.

  Other
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• 2017BAE Systems awarded five-year support contract for Type 45 destroyer long-range radar equipment

  Maritime Services received an £18 million contract to support the long-range radar equipment installed on the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 destroyers.

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1. BAE Systems Maritime – Maritime Services
2. BAE系统获得为期十年的皇家海军雷达支持与开发合同