Thales and UK Ministry of Defence ink £1.8bn deal to boost royal navy fleet availability

In a significant boost to the Royal Navy’s operational capabilities, the UK Ministry of Defence has awarded Thales a monumental £1.8 billion contract spanning 15 years, aimed at maximizing ship availability and resilience amid growing global tensions. This strategic initiative, named the Maritime Sensor Enhancement Team (MSET) project, is designed to extend the active duty periods of Royal Navy platforms through advanced technological interventions and support.

The MSET contract focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and data management innovations to anticipate equipment issues, transitioning from a reactive to a proactive maintenance model. This approach is expected to markedly improve equipment availability, reduce turnaround times by an average of 100 days per repair, and shorten spares lead times by an average of 44 days. Additionally, the reliability of Royal Navy assets is projected to improve by 10%.

The agreement not only underpins more than 450 highly skilled engineering, IT, and support jobs across the UK but also promotes apprenticeship and training opportunities, enhancing local communities and engineering skills nationwide. Significant investments will be made in HMNB Devonport, Faslane, Portsmouth, and Bahrain to establish advanced test and repair capabilities, further supported by investments in emerging technologies like virtual reality and big data analytics.

As the Royal Navy prepares to introduce new platforms such as the Type 26, Type 31, and Dreadnought, as well as autonomous systems, the scalable MSET service model aims to provide comprehensive support during this transitional period. The contract’s emphasis on data-driven decision-making and the integration of cutting-edge technologies is set to revolutionize naval maintenance regimes, offering unprecedented operational readiness and efficiency.

Alex Cresswell, Chairman and CEO of Thales in the UK, expressed pride in reinforcing the company’s longstanding partnership with the Royal Navy. Cresswell highlighted the contract’s role in harnessing AI, data analysis, and improved dockland facilities to ensure greater ship availability and support the AUKUS security and defence partnership between Australia, the US, and the UK. The initiative not only safeguards 300 current positions but also creates an additional 150 roles across the UK, marking a substantial investment in the nation’s defence infrastructure and technological prowess.