The Design Services Arrangement (DSA) brings together a range of design and support services for the submarine combat system, which is used to navigate as well as gather intelligence and defend against attacks.

The contract also provides a mechanism for achieving a Common Combat System across all current and future Royal Navy submarines, bringing significant cost benefits to training, maintenance and updates. It replaces a number of previous combat system contracts, giving MOD greater flexibility to meet evolving priorities within the Fleet.

For the BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines Combat Systems team DSA brings a commitment for the remainder of the decade and stability to a range of combat system services, enabling the business to invest in people and maintain resources. It consolidates the team's role as the lead for submarine combat system design, providing a range of design services to the Defence Equipment and Support Submarine Combat Systems Group.

"A great opportunity for Maritime-Submarines to collaborate with the MOD..."

Combat Systems Director Ian Hawkes said: 'The Design Services Contract provides Maritime – Submarines with a great opportunity to collaborate with the MOD to sustain the design, development and support for current and future combat systems. A 10 year contract provides the longevity to innovate and provide cost effective solutions to maintain the fight capability of Royal Navy submarines.'

Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne said: 'The UK's submarine fleet is second to none and plays a key role in protecting our waters and interests both at home and abroad. This latest commitment to maintain and develop this vital technology throughout the fleet will ensure that we can continue delivering first class capability for many years to come.'

The contract covers many in-service combat system requirements, from initial concept and assessment through design management, proving and integration, to assuring the resultant design once incorporated into the submarine.

A major boost for BAE Systems' sites at Ash Vale, Surrey, and Weymouth, Dorset.

DSA is a major boost for BAE Systems' sites at Ash Vale, Surrey, and Weymouth, Dorset. It secures the future for Ash Vale, where integration trials, to prove the integrity of design changes to submarine combat systems, and investigation of design issues from sea, to support the availability of UK submarines, will be conducted. Ash Vale is also lead facility for the development of the Common Combat System design.

Weymouth is the base for the Combat Systems Technical Authority role – providing assurance in response to design change and advice on in-service combat systems. This consolidates delivery of Design Authority support for a range of systems, including the ground-breaking Sonar 2076 fitted to Astute class submarines.

DSA also provides for a small team based in Farnborough, which investigates early design concepts and assesses their potential. It will be managed from Weymouth.