Royal Navy receives new navigation radar system

New navigation radars are set to be fitted to over 60 Royal Navy ships, submarines and shore facilities, as a result of a £44 million contract awarded by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The funding was awarded to Hampshire based Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems UK and will modernise ship and submarine navigation systems, ensuring safe navigation at sea.

The MoD’s Navigation Radar Programme is expected to replace existing radars fitted across the fleet with solid-state SharpEye radar transceivers over the next five years. The equipment has been designed and developed in the UK by Kelvin Hughes in Enfield and provides a highly reliable and safe collision avoidance system.

Specifically, the new technology will be fitted to the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates, Hunt and Sandown class Mine Counter Measure Vessels, Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, fast patrol boats, as well as the Astute, Trafalgar and Vanguard class submarines.

There is also an option to introduce the radars to future Royal Navy platforms such as the Queen Elizabeth Carriers, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship, and Successor submarines.

Defence Minister Philip Dunne said: “The replacement of navigation radars across more than 60 ships, submarines and shore facilities will see the Royal Navy receive the latest generation of digital radar systems which sets the standard for the future.

“This has been as a direct result of our pledge to invest £178 billion in defence equipment and support, to help to ensure the UK can respond to diverse threats around the world.”

Steve Hyde, Head of Maritime Combat Systems at the MOD’s Defence, Equipment and Support Organisation, added: “This contract will see new radars that use the latest technology rolled out across the entire Royal Navy fleet, providing a reliable, technically capable and easy to maintain system that will give our Navy the extra confidence they need when serving on operations.”

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