£20M Contract for new Royal Navy Ships

£20M Contract for new Royal Navy Ships
It was announced in November last year that the MoD would purchase the ships which will be built, subject to approval, by BAE Systems.
Today, during a visit to the company’s shipyards on the Clyde in Scotland, Defence Minister Philip Dunne MP announced that the MoD has committed £20 million to the programme.
The contract will enable BAE Systems to begin work on parts such as the engines and gearboxes, which require a longer time to make and therefore have to be ordered in advance of the main shipbuilding programme.
The Royal Navy’s OPVs are set to be built later this year by BAE Systems at their Clyde shipyards, which currently employs approximately 3,000 people.
Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne MP said: “This £20 million is a significant milestone, critical to the successful delivery of these three vessels for the Royal Navy.
“The OPVs will not only provide an additional capability for the UK but also at its peak, the OPV programme will safeguard more than 800 vital skilled roles in the shipbuilding industry.”
OPVs can be used to support counter-terrorism, counter-piracy and anti-smuggling operations in the waters around the UK and other UK interests abroad.
Compared to the current River Class ships, the new OPVs will have more storage and accommodation facilities and a larger flight deck for Merlin helicopters.
The first OPV is expected to be delivered to the Royal Navy in 2017.