Thales UK CVF programme team strengthened

The Thales Team had announced that it is being strengthened by the addition of a new team member, Devonport Royal Dockyard Limited (DML). DML has been included to help meet the whole life cycle requirements of the UK MoD's future carrier (CVF) programme.

The Team's Prime Contracting Office (PCO) in Bristol, comprises of representatives from each of the participant companies and is committed to providing the UK MoD with an affordable, best value-for-money, solution to the CVF requirement. The Team will maximise UK industrial participation by ensuring that the build, outfit and commissioning of the two aircraft carriers will be undertaken entirely in the UK and by competing all work packages, thereby creating a major opportunity for much of the UK's major shipbuilding industry.

Peter Robertson, the new managing director of Thales Naval UK, commented: "We are delighted that DML is joining the Thales Team where they will further enhance its ability to deliver CVF. Thales, Lockheed Martin and DML are fully committed to supporting the UK MoD's business case for the CVF programme main gate approval in autumn 2003."

Thales contributes to the team international experience in naval systems, encompassing warship prime contracting and systems integration, surveillance, sonar and combat management systems among others. Lockheed Martin is currently the Integrated Warfare System supplier for the US Navy's CVN 77 programme, the Aegis Combat System Design Agent/System Integrator and a major competitor for the US DoD's JSF programme. DML is the leading UK privatised naval dockyard specialising in nuclear submarine and conventional surface ship refitting, systems integration, outfitting, testing and commissioning of warships, including their through life management. The Thales Team brings extensive international experience in naval markets, particularly with US and French aircraft carriers, to UK MoD's CVF programme.

As well as Lockheed Martin and DML, the Thales Team includes British Maritime Technology, Raytheon, Alstom and QinetiQ.

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