In addition to its Naval Combat Systems Integration Support Services (NCSISS) previous contract, BAE Systems will provide both UK aircraft carriers – HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales – world class complex system engineering.
HMS Prince of Wales (Picture source : UK Royal Navy)
According to Richard Williams, BAE Systems Naval Ships Combat Systems Director, the NCSISS already provides essential support to the UK Royal Navy to maintain it at peak operational performance. BAE Systems, in collaboration with QinetiQ and DE&S, will now extend that support to these two aircraft carriers (NCSISS phase 2.2). The NCSISS also includes support for future platforms such as the Type 26 Global Combat Ships (since July 2018).
BAE Systems will provide its support to these two Queen Elizabeth Class (QES) mission systems from its dedicated support facility, the Maritime Integration Support Centre (MISC) based in Portsmouth. The MISC will ensure that both the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales can effectively carry out their operations fully optimized, wherever they are in the world. Following a $US 13 million upgrade program, the MISC will also be used to develop new technologies for BAE Systems’ INTeGEN combat system solutions.