Navy
Fallon Announces £13.5m Contract For Royal Navy Fast Boats
The Defence Secretary has announced a £13.5 million deal to buy new fast boats for the Royal Navy.
BAE systems will produce 60 Pacific 24 Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) for the Senior Service.
Michael Fallon made the announcement during a visit to Portsmouth Naval Base to inspect preparations for the arrival of new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in just over a year's time.
The Pacific 24 Mark-4s will be deployed on Royal Navy ships such as the offshore patrol vessels, as well as the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
Improvements include high performance shock absorbing seats to minimise crew fatigue, allowing travel up to six-times the previous distance, a 370HP twin turbo diesel electronic engine with inbuilt self-diagnostic technology, and the ability to be used for rescue operations.
A team of 19 BAE Systems employees will start work in early 2016 to build the boats over the next four years at the company’s small boats manufacturing facility at Portsmouth Naval Base.
RIBs are the workhorse of the Royal Navy, deploying from ship or shore at speeds of up to 38 knots (44mph) as a rapid response craft to perform fast rescue, anti-piracy and counter-narcotics missions. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
“These 60 new RIBs provide a vital capability to the Royal Navy and are a clear benefit of the £178 billion this government is investing in new military equipment.
“Built in Portsmouth dockyard this contract is not only good news for the Navy, but also for BAE Systems whose innovation has provided a modern design that will allow our armed forces to carry out operations ranging from armed boarding including anti-piracy and counter-narcotics missions to providing emergency rescue.”
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