Surveillance radar and integrated bridge systems have been chosen for the new UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships to be built to support Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers
Navantia UK has selected Hensoldt to supply these and an air-traffic management (ATM) system for three new fleet solid support (FSS) ships that will support the replenishment operations of the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
Enfield, UK-headquartered Hensoldt will supply its Quadome 3D air and surface surveillance radar and Kelvin Hughes integrated navigation bridge systems (INBS) for these RFA vessels.
Quadome 3D will feature a software-defined, active electronically scanned array (AESA) for small target detection, volume tracking and mission systems interaction. It includes an integrated identification antenna and interrogator and a comprehensive ATM display.
Kelvin Hughes INBS will include SharpEye naval navigation radars and multi-functional displays for navigational tasks, including radar, charts, helicopter control and conning display.
Seafarers on RFA ships will already be familiar with these displays as Kelvin Hughes INBS and SharpEye radars are operational on board the RFA Tide-class tankers and other vessels allowing training, spares and support of these systems can be optimised across the RFA fleet, minimising through-life costs for the Ministry of Defence and maximising crew flexibility across the fleet.
Hensoldt will invest more than US$1.4M in its Enfield factory and test facilities to create a new European support hub for Quadome radars and construct Kelvin Hughes INBS packages for these RFA ships.
“These contracts support our plans for significant new investment in our UK manufacturing and support facility,” said Hensoldt UK managing director Peter Dillon.
“We are set to establish a new Quadome radar support and test facility utilising UK supply chain support. This will provide local maintenance, repair and support services to Navantia and the RFA, while also creating new employment opportunities in the area.”
This contract is Hensoldt’s entry into the naval air surveillance market in the UK. Team Resolute, including Navantia UK, BMT and Harland & Wolff, won the contract to build these three ships for the RFA following a tender round.
These 216-m RFA ships are designed by BMT and are expected to be built in the UK by Harland & Wolff, starting in 2025 and expected to be in service from 2032.
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