1 March 2024
Babcock International
PLC
Babcock awarded contract to refit UK
nuclear submarine
Babcock International Group PLC
("Babcock" or "the Group") and the UK's Submarine Delivery Agency
(SDA) have agreed a full cost recovery contract worth an estimated
£560 million to undertake the planned deep maintenance and life
extension programme for HMS Victorious, one of the UK's Vanguard
Class nuclear submarines.
The multi-year life extension
programme will deliver HMS Victorious back to the Royal Navy
modernised and improved, enabling it to continue operational
patrols well into the 2030s. Work on the submarine is already
underway, following a commitment by the Department to authorise
early-works from July 2023.
Through the HMS Victorious
programme, more than 1,000 jobs will be sustained in the south
west. Alongside this, Babcock is continuing to build its
workforce through its Plymouth-based Babcock Skills Academy, which
includes a focus on submarine support and the critical nuclear
skills required to perform deep submarine maintenance.
HMS Victorious is the second
Vanguard Class submarine to undergo a life extension package at
Babcock's Devonport facility. It performs a vital role as part of
the UK's critical continuous at sea deterrent and represents one of
the most complex pieces of engineering there is.
Babcock CEO David Lockwood said:
"Delivering the programme for this vital and complex defence asset
is our top priority. We are proud to have been awarded this complex
defence programme which will use our deep engineering expertise to
help keep the UK safe."
Babcock's supports all of the UK's
submarine fleet. The capability and experience gained through
delivery of similar complex projects, combined with new ways of
working, is being applied to deliver this important overhaul
programme at pace.
Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps
said: "In an increasingly dangerous world, it is crucial that we
continue to invest in one of our most important assets, our nuclear
deterrent.
"This is another UK partnership with
Babcock, that will help keep the UK safe, while boosting the local
economy and supporting 1,000 jobs.
"On my recent visit to HMNB
Devonport it was a privilege to speak with sailors and staff whose
work directly contributes to our national
security."
Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Martin
Connell said: "The Royal Navy performs no more important mission
than Operation Relentless, the continuous at sea strategic
deterrent patrols which have been performed by our submariners
uninterrupted since 1969.
"The mission requires an
unprecedented national effort in support, maintaining our
Vanguard-class submarines to the very highest engineering
standards.
"The overhaul of HMS Victorious will
allow the boat to carry out deterrent patrols until the next
generation of submarines, the Dreadnought-class, enter
service."
The programme is being delivered at
Babcock's facility in Devonport where a major infrastructure
programme is underway to ensure the future capability requirements
of the Royal Navy and the submarine enterprise are met for decades
to come from state-of-the-art facilities.
Ends
Notes to
Editor:
Babcock is an international defence
company, operating in our focus countries of the UK, Australasia,
Canada, France and South Africa, with exports to additional
markets. We support and enhance our customers' defence capabilities
and critical assets through a range of product and service
solutions, providing increased availability, affordability and
capability.
For
further information:
Andrew Gollan, Babcock Director of
Investor Relations
+44 (0)7936 039 004
Kate Hill, Babcock Group Director of
Communications
+44 (0)20 7355 5312
Olivia Peters / Harry Cameron, Teneo
+44 (0)20 7353 4200