QinetiQ secures major passive sonar system contract from Kongsberg for six Norwegian ULA Class submarines

QinetiQ has been awarded a £3.8m contract from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace following their success in winning the Prime Contract from the Norwegian Defence Procurement Division, valued at almost £18m. The Prime Contract is to deliver an integrated Combat System Infrastructure, a new passive sonar system and an upgraded tactical simulator for Norway's six ULA Class submarines.

QinetiQ will provide its proven DeRSCI open architecture software infrastructure and sonar processing applications together with new data acquisition hardware that will bring together the processing system with the existing submarine sonar arrays. The overall system will be built using COTS based hardware integrated with QinetiQ's advanced sonar processing expertise and combined with Kongsberg's sonar processing and combat management system capabilities.

"This is the first opportunity that we've had to work alongside Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and we're really looking forward to jointly delivering a highly successful programme. Our aspiration is to build on the relationship and show the Royal Norwegian Navy what a great team we are,� explained Karen Oddey, Managing Director of QinetiQ's Integrated Systems Sector. "A number of submarine fleets throughout the world are, or will soon be, in need of life extension programmes and our respective companies see this contract as a significant reference point. QinetiQ has long standing heritage in submarine research, design and sonar. Work in these areas continues to play a key part in growth of our underwater business."

Delivery of the ULA Class upgrade will commence in 2010 and is scheduled for completion around mid 2012. The majority of QinetiQ's work will be undertaken at its Winfrith facility in Dorset with the physical installation work being undertaken in Norway.