UK MoD awards BAE Systems £135m torpedo repair and maintenance contract

Published Aug 4, 10:01 AM UTC

The UK Ministry of Defence awarded BAE Systems a £135 million Torpedo Repair and Maintenance contract, running from July 2026 to June 2029. The contract covers both torpedo types in Royal Navy service—Spearfish and Sting Ray—used by submarines, surface warships, and maritime patrol aircraft. It will sustain 315 jobs, including 150 highly skilled roles at BAE Systems sites in Portsmouth, Edinburgh, Chelmsford, and near Glasgow, with 165 more supported through the supply chain. The MoD states the contract is critical for maintaining the UK's nuclear deterrent and anti-submarine warfare capability. It serves as a bridge to the longer-term WHITEHEAD2 programme, which aims to deliver a modernized torpedo support solution from 2029. Minister for Defence Readiness Luke Pollard and other officials emphasized the contract's role in national security and economic growth.