Subsidiaries of Reading-based Cohort plc share £135m Royal Navy contract

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Daniel Face

Image: MOD

The Ministry of Defence has awarded a new contract worth £135 million which will equip the Royal Navy with new decoy launchers to counter missile and drone threats.

Picking up the contract are Systems Engineering & Assessment Ltd (SEA) in North Devon, which has partnered with Chess Dynamics in West Sussex. Both are part of Reading-based Cohort plc.

They’ll provide trainable decoy launcher technology to help protect Royal Navy ships and sailors, which can be operated without needing to alter course.

It comes as new missile and drone technology creates greater threats to the UK’s fleet.

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The contract is also set to sustain up to 150 jobs across the South Coast.

Richard Flitton, MD of SEA, said: “Being awarded a contract of this nature demonstrates the Royal Navy’s trust in SEA, which is based on our proven track record of delivering, upgrading and sustaining high-end maritime capabilities over many years.

“The knowledge and maritime domain expertise within our UK-based team has enabled our long-standing partnership with the Royal Navy, and we’re delighted that this will allow us to support the UK’s defensive capabilities against modern and complex naval threats.”

The contract will see Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, as well as Type 45 destroyers, fitted with a new trainable countermeasure launcher system.

Trainable decoy launchers use an improved decoy launcher technology which enables a decoy to be rapidly deployed against modern missile threats, without the need to manoeuvre the vessel itself.

The launcher fires a range of countermeasures, including chaff, flares and ‘corner reflector’ rounds to target hostile missiles.

James Cartlidge, minister for defence procurement, added: “In a time of global instability, it’s vital we protect the Royal Navy in the best possible way to ensure national security.

“With recent attacks towards HMS Diamond and HMS Richmond in the Red Sea, it’s crucial our sailors have the latest technology to best defend themselves and the fleet.

“The new trainable decoy launcher technology is an improvement on speed and agility and highlights more excellent work from UK companies in backing UK defence.”

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Daniel Face

Born and raised in Berkshire, Dan fell into journalism after completing his bachelor’s degree in English at UCL. Writing for The Business Magazine and local Biz News sites has given him the opportunity to chat with all manner of small business owners and share their success stories with a wider audience. Outside of work, Dan enjoys live music, board games and quiz shows, and is making a slow but persistent effort to learn Spanish.