General Atomics

Serco awarded contract to support NavyX ship XV Patrick Blackett

Serco has been awarded a contract to provide ship support services for the Royal Navy’s XV PATRICK BLACKETT.

Image courtesy Serco

The contract commences on 1st April 2025 and is for an initial period of two years with options to extend it for up to a further three years and is valued at up to £6.6 million for the five years.
 
Under the contract, Serco will provide technical management services as well as ad-hoc work required by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) such as physical maintenance, bespoke capability enhancements and the development of design feasibility studies.
 
Commenting on the award, Doug Umbers, Managing Director of Serco’s Defence business, said: “We are excited that we have been given this opportunity to support the Royal Navy’s unique trials ship, the XV Patrick Blackett. The contract gives us the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to developing our maintain, repair and overhaul specialist maritime services.  
 
“XV Patrick Blackett optimises the Royal Navy’s focus on agility and innovation and we are proud to have been chosen to provide our engineering and technical expertise to ensure the vessel’s maximum availability and utilisation and to support the Royal Navy’s force generation and capability development.”

NavyX’s 270-tonne unique trials ship, XV (eXperimental Vessel) Patrick Blackett, which bears the name of the former Royal Navy Officer and Nobel Prize Winner Patrick Blackett, is paving the way for advanced experimentation, innovation and future capabilities within the Royal Navy and ensuring that the UK stays at the leading edge of naval warfare.

Related

Rising airline jet fuel costs could affect UK aerospace investment and regional routes
BGS extends fuelling partnership with Ryanair
Rising airline jet fuel costs could affect UK aerospace investment and regional routes
Higher airline fuel costs could affect aircraft investment, maintenance demand and UK regional air services, despite strong aerospace order backlogs.
Aerospace

21 Oct 2026

UK Government and industry to open job and training opportunities
Aerospace SME using AI to win defence contracts
UK Government and industry to open job and training opportunities
Young people are to benefit from thousands more routes into skilled careers in some of Britain’s fastest-growing industries, as government and businesses join forces to expand apprenticeships, work experience and training.
Aerospace Defence Security

21 Oct 2026

Solar radiation event highlights need for improved aviation monitoring, study finds
On October 2, 2014, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured a powerful solar flare alongside a coronal mass ejection (CME).
Solar radiation event highlights need for improved aviation monitoring, study finds
The event was triggered by a rare X5-class solar flare, which sent a burst of energetic particles from the Sun into Earth’s atmosphere in November 2025.
Aerospace

21 Oct 2026

OpenWorks Engineering to support US DHS’ C-UAS capability
OpenWorks’ Vision Pace
OpenWorks Engineering to support US DHS’ C-UAS capability
OpenWorks Engineering will enhance US Department for Homeland Security (DHS) ’counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) capability via its Vision Pace solution, to detect, track, identify and target threats from stationary or moving platforms.
UK Government and industry to open job and training opportunities
Aerospace SME using AI to win defence contracts
UK Government and industry to open job and training opportunities
Young people are to benefit from thousands more routes into skilled careers in some of Britain’s fastest-growing industries, as government and businesses join forces to expand apprenticeships, work experience and training.
Aerospace Defence Security

21 Oct 2026

How will RAF Typhoons help defend Saudi Arabia from Houthi drones and missiles?
RAF Typhoon at RIAT 2025. Khalem Chapman
How will RAF Typhoons help defend Saudi Arabia from Houthi drones and missiles?
RAF Typhoon FGR4s will deploy to undertake defensive counter-air missions in support of Saudi Arabia, but how will the multi-role fighter be used to help counter rising Houthi drone and missile attacks?
Aerospace Defence Security

21 Oct 2026

UK Space Agency opens £2m fund to bring satellite data into new markets
Satellite
UK Space Agency opens £2m fund to bring satellite data into new markets
UK businesses can partner with space suppliers to test satellite-enabled environmental and emissions services, with applications closing on 11 December.
Space

21 Oct 2026

Newquay could host twice-daily space flights under new plan
Aurora - Flight 61, Scout Space - High Altitude
Newquay could host twice-daily space flights under new plan
Spaceport Cornwall and Dawn Aerospace are exploring plans to bring reusable spaceplane operations to Newquay, with ambitions for twice-daily flights to the edge of space.
Aerospace Space

20 Oct 2026

Space war could emerge within five years as satellite threats grow, expert warns
United Kingdom backs new space strategy with £7.8 billion to counter orbital threats and strengthen satellite capabilities
Space war could emerge within five years as satellite threats grow, expert warns
A military conflict in space could emerge within the next five years as countries…
Security Space

20 Oct 2026

UK wildfires expose gaps in emergency preparedness, MPs warn
UK wildfire
UK wildfires expose gaps in emergency preparedness, MPs warn
The MPs are calling for improved firefighting resources and a nationwide public awareness campaign to reduce the growing threat of wildfires.
Home Security

21 Oct 2026

OpenWorks Engineering to support US DHS’ C-UAS capability
OpenWorks’ Vision Pace
OpenWorks Engineering to support US DHS’ C-UAS capability
OpenWorks Engineering will enhance US Department for Homeland Security (DHS) ’counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) capability via its Vision Pace solution, to detect, track, identify and target threats from stationary or moving platforms.
UK Government and industry to open job and training opportunities
Aerospace SME using AI to win defence contracts
UK Government and industry to open job and training opportunities
Young people are to benefit from thousands more routes into skilled careers in some of Britain’s fastest-growing industries, as government and businesses join forces to expand apprenticeships, work experience and training.
Aerospace Defence Security

21 Oct 2026