'Critical' deadly Spearfish Sting Ray torpedoes for Royal Navy as £135m contract secures 100 Portsmouth jobs
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The multi-million pound contract awarded to BAE Systems will run for three years
Ferocious torpedoes will continue to be maintained for the Royal Navy in Portsmouth after a huge contract secures 100 jobs.
The three-year £135m agreement with BAE Systems covers the maintenance and repairs for Sting Ray and Spearfish weapons. Under the Torpedo Repair and Maintenance (TRAM) contract, 100 high-skilled engineering and technician roles will be retained in the city.
Minister for defence readiness and industry Luke Pollard, Labour, said: “This is defence spending doing exactly what it should – keeping our country safe while securing 315 skilled jobs and creating new opportunities across our country. We are proud to be backing British jobs, British skills and British industry.”
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the agreement keeps Britain’s underwater defences combat ready. Sting Ray weapons are used on the current crop of Type 23 frigates, and will be fitted to their Type 26 counterparts currently under construction.
They are primarily used on AW159 helicopters and Merlin HM2 aircraft. Spearfish torpedoes are primarily used on the Royal Navy’s Astute-class attack submarines and Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines. The contract will ensure sailors and submariners always have reliable, battle-ready equipment when they need it.
Rear Admiral Matt Stratton, Royal Navy Director Naval Acquisition, said: "This contract extension ensures the Royal Navy retains a safe, reliable and continuous torpedo support capability. It is a critical enabler of our operational readiness and directly supports the UK's Continuous At Sea Deterrent."
The contract bridges to a longer-term programme, WHITEHEAD2, which will deliver a modernised torpedo support solution from 2029 onwards. A further 165 jobs will be supported in BAE Systems’ supply chain, as well as a further 50 across Edinburgh, Chelmsford, and near Glasgow. The three-year contract runs from July 2026 to June 2029.
Scott Jamieson, managing director of BAE Systems’ Maritime and Land Defence Solutions, said: “Since 2019 we have delivered consistently high levels of torpedo availability for the UK Armed Forces, supporting both the successful entry into service of Spearfish and the ongoing operational readiness of Sting Ray. As a trusted partner to UK Defence, we are proud to underpin the nation’s Continuous at Sea Deterrent and anti-submarine warfare capability through exceptional reliability, availability and performance.”