UK Defence News Round-up: Week 45

HeliOperations Wins ￡141M Training Contract

HeliOperations has been awarded a ￡141 million contract by the German Ministry of Defence (MOD) to deliver comprehensive training for German Navy helicopter pilots. The seven-year agreement will focus on preparing pilots for the operation of the NH90 Sea Lion and Sea Tiger helicopters, vital assets for the German Navy’s maritime capabilities.

Under the terms of the contract, HeliOperations will provide a complete training solution, which includes the design and maintenance of state-of-the-art training infrastructure, as well as the provision of accommodation and transportation for personnel. The training programme will incorporate a blend of theoretical instruction, advanced flight simulation, and practical live flight training. Pilots will receive extensive day and night training using HeliOperations growing fleet of AW139 helicopters.

The training will be delivered at HeliOperations Portland base, where work is already underway to build the approved infrastructure to support the project. This contract marks a significant expansion of HeliOperations training services, and the company will play a key role in ensuring that German Navy pilots are fully prepared for a wide range of maritime operations.

“We are incredibly proud to have been chosen by the German Ministry of Defence for this important contract,” said a spokesperson for HeliOperations. “This award not only reflects their confidence in our ability to provide exceptional training but also reinforces our position as a leading provider of both civil and military aviation training services. We look forward to working closely with the German Navy to meet their evolving operational needs and to supporting them in the development of their helicopter fleet’.

With the increasing complexity of modern military operations, HeliOperations expertise in delivering advanced, tailored training solutions is more critical than ever. The award of this contract strengthens the company’s position as a key player in the global aviation training market.

UK MOD Signs ￡40M Contract for JUNO Satellite

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has announced the signing of a ￡40 million contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) for the development of the JUNO Earth observation satellite. The deal is set to enhance the UK’s military and intelligence capabilities, providing the armed forces with cutting-edge space technology for improved Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations.

Expected to launch in 2027, JUNO will feature advanced imaging sensors capable of capturing high-resolution daytime imagery of the Earth’s surface. This will significantly strengthen the UK’s ISR capabilities, allowing for better monitoring of adversary activities and supporting a range of other military and government operations. JUNO is designed to build on the capabilities of the Tyche satellite, which is part of the Ministry of Defence’s wider space-based ISR programme.

The contract is expected to create around 200 skilled jobs, further boosting the UK’s growing space sector and contributing to the national economy. Both JUNO and Tyche are integral components of the MOD’s ambitious satellite programme, which aims to deliver a constellation of satellites and ground systems by 2031. Together, these satellites will enhance the UK’s ability to conduct military operations, monitor natural disasters, support environmental tracking, and provide critical mapping and climate change data for the government.

The UK MOD’s investment in JUNO reflects its commitment to advancing space-based technologies to support military and civilian operations. The satellite will also provide valuable data for broader applications, including environmental monitoring, disaster response, and mapping of the Earth’s surface.

The JUNO project marks a significant milestone in the UK’s strategic investment in space infrastructure, ensuring that the country remains at the forefront of global space innovation and military readiness.

Lockheed Martin Secures CATT Extension

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a two-year extension contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to continue its support for the British Army’s Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (CATT) programme. The ￡10 million contract, which runs until February 2027, ensures that Lockheed Martin will maintain, operate, and modernise the CATT system to meet the evolving operational and training needs of the British Army.

CATT, which operates from the British Army Land Warfare Centre in Warminster, UK, and Sennelager in Germany, is the world’s largest and most sophisticated battlefield simulation system. Spanning an area equivalent to three football pitches, the trainer features more than 200 networked simulators that create a fully immersive and virtual training environment for soldiers.

The system allows military personnel to engage in highly realistic scenarios, simulating combat situations involving vehicles, aircraft, soldiers, commanders, and even civilian populations, insurgents, and non-governmental organisations. With the ability to simulate a combat area of over 10,000 square kilometres (3,800 square miles), CATT can accommodate more than 400 soldiers training together as a battlegroup, providing invaluable experience for both individual soldiers and commanding officers.

Kathryn Hopes, Project Manager for Training and Special Projects at the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), commented, “The contract extension ensures that Collective Simulated Training continues to be delivered across the British Army. CATT is a vital part of the Army’s training infrastructure, providing a safe and cost-effective way to prepare for operational readiness. Without CATT, the costs of live training would increase significantly, making it difficult to maintain a capable fighting force.”

Lockheed Martin has been supporting CATT for more than two decades, continuously enhancing the system’s capabilities. Recently, the company upgraded CATT’s visualisation engine to produce more lifelike graphics, improving the realism of training scenarios and better simulating real-world environments. The ongoing updates to CATT reflect Lockheed Martin’s commitment to providing cutting-edge training solutions that meet the Army’s evolving needs.

The extension of the CATT contract further strengthens the partnership between Lockheed Martin and the UK MOD, ensuring that the British Army will have access to the most advanced and cost-effective training systems for years to come.

Babcock Signs Deal with KDC Veolia

Babcock, in collaboration with the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE), has reached a significant milestone in the decommissioning of nuclear-powered submarines. The company has awarded a key recycling contract to KDC Veolia Decommissioning Services UK Ltd (KDCV) to fully dismantle the UK submarine Swiftsure at its Rosyth facility. This marks the first time a UK nuclear-powered submarine will be entirely dismantled and recycled using a world-first, innovative approach that aims to reuse or recycle around 90% of the submarine’s structure and components.

The Swiftsure submarine will be the first of its kind to undergo a complete decommissioning process, setting a precedent for the future recycling of the UK’s fleet of decommissioned submarines. Babcock’s new methodology, which includes dismantling the pressure hull around the reactor compartment, will ensure that all material, once radiological monitoring is complete, can be safely reused or recycled.

Swiftsure is on track to be fully dismantled by 2026, ahead of the broader UK programme aimed at dismantling all retired Royal Navy submarines. The project will not only safely dispose of these vessels but also free up space and resources for future submarine programmes, supporting ongoing UK naval operations and submarine availability.

Harry Holt, Chief Executive of Babcock's Nuclear division, commented, "This is a world first. We are combining our extensive experience in supporting the UK submarine fleet with our nuclear expertise to develop a safe and efficient process for the disposal of ex-service nuclear submarines."

John Abraham, Chief Operating Officer for Industrial, Water & Energy at Veolia UK, Ireland, and Nordics, added, "This unique and complex project marks a new era in sustainable decommissioning. Through our global expertise and as part of Veolia’s GreenUp strategic programme, we are committed to delivering a solution that depollutes, decarbonises, and preserves valuable resources."

The partnership between Babcock and Veolia reflects a major step forward in the responsible and sustainable disposal of retired nuclear submarines, with the Swiftsure project leading the way for future recycling efforts.

Forcys and CUBEDIN Collaborate on MCM

Forcys, a global leader in maritime defence, has announced a strategic collaboration with CUBEDIN A/S to advance modular Mine Countermeasure (MCM) capabilities for naval forces. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Euronaval exhibition in Paris, marking the beginning of an innovative partnership aimed at enhancing the flexibility and efficiency of naval operations in Mine Countermeasures (MCM), Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA), and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

As part of the agreement, Forcys will integrate its advanced MCM-in-a-box Remotely Operated Towed Vehicle (ROTV) systems—developed through its EIVA technology—within CUBEDIN's modular platform. This integration will provide naval forces with a versatile, reconfigurable solution that enhances their operational capacity across a wide range of maritime missions.

CUBEDIN, known for its innovative modular platform, enables naval vessels to transform into highly adaptable, multi-mission platforms. By integrating diverse modules from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Forcys, CUBEDIN's system offers seamless reconfigurability, allowing ships to quickly adapt to various mission requirements. Through its unique software platform and physical interface, CUBEDIN provides an ‘open architecture’ that ensures smooth integration with a wide range of technologies and systems.

The partnership between Forcys and CUBEDIN represents a significant step towards enhancing naval capabilities in the increasingly complex and dynamic maritime environment. By combining Forcys' cutting-edge MCM technology with CUBEDIN's modular platform, the two companies aim to deliver highly adaptable and mission-ready solutions for naval forces around the world.

This collaboration reflects both companies' commitment to providing flexible, scalable solutions for modern naval warfare, ensuring that naval forces can rapidly respond to changing operational needs and effectively counter emerging maritime threats.

That's all for this week folks,