Shruti GautamTLDR:
- Jacobs has been awarded a $132 million (£108 million) contract by the UK Ministry of Defence to provide research and technology services to the naval nuclear propulsion program.
- The contract, which runs until 2032, will cover technical support for the reactors that power Royal Navy submarines, including reactor development for future boats.
Jacobs, a global provider of technical, scientific, and project delivery services, has been chosen to provide research and technology services to the UK naval nuclear propulsion program. The company has been awarded a $132 million (£108 million) contract by the UK Ministry of Defence. The contract, which will run until 2032, will cover technical support for the reactors that power Royal Navy submarines. This will include supporting existing submarines as well as developing future propulsion plant technology.
Jacobs will be responsible for providing essential through-life technical support for the reactors, including the Rolls-Royce PWR2 reactor and reactor development for the UK’s new generation of submarines. The company will also offer laboratory and analytical resources, materials science expertise, physics, chemistry, and high integrity engineering services.
This contract is a significant one for Jacobs, as the UK is currently building four new Dreadnought Class ballistic missile submarines and working on developing a new type of submarine as part of the AUKUS security agreement with the US and Australia. The UK Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, said that the contract will not only support the safe operation of Royal Navy submarines but will also provide an economic boost by supporting 100 UK jobs.
Jacobs has a long history of supporting the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarines, having been involved with the programme since it began in 1958, and was also awarded a $230 million (£185 million) contract last year to deliver nuclear safety and technical advice to the Royal Navy’s submarine service.
Overall, this contract reinforces Jacobs’ position as a leading provider of nuclear defence services and demonstrates their commitment to supporting the UK’s naval nuclear propulsion program.
