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

Manufacturers warn Government over UK steel import tariffs
UK steel manufacturing
Manufacturers warn Government over UK steel import tariffs
As a petition highlighting the negative impact of Government-imposed steel import tariffs on UK manufacturing surpasses 10,000 signatures, industry calls for an urgent review.
UK airport reliability ranked: Heathrow leads globally while Manchester is near the bottom
Heathrow Airport, British Airways Airbus A380 engine, Feb 2015
UK airport reliability ranked: Heathrow leads globally while Manchester is near the bottom
A new study ranks Heathrow as the UK's most reliable airport, with Edinburgh ahead of Gatwick and Stansted, and Manchester near the bottom globally.
Aerospace

5 Aug 2026

Gatwick Northern Runway expansion clears Court of Appeal challenge
Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Northern Runway expansion clears Court of Appeal challenge
London Gatwick’s plans to bring its existing Northern Runway into routine…
Aerospace Most Read

5 Aug 2026

Manufacturers warn Government over UK steel import tariffs
UK steel manufacturing
Manufacturers warn Government over UK steel import tariffs
As a petition highlighting the negative impact of Government-imposed steel import tariffs on UK manufacturing surpasses 10,000 signatures, industry calls for an urgent review.
BAE Systems to maintain Royal Navy torpedoes
Spearfish
BAE Systems to maintain Royal Navy torpedoes
A new £135 million contract to has been awarded to BAE Systems to maintain and repair Royal Navy torpedo weapons.
Defence Member News

5 Aug 2026

Tempest demonstrator in final assembly ahead of planned first flight in 2027
The bulbous central fuselage section of BAE Systems' CAFD demonstrator is seen underway at the firm's facility in Samlesbury, Lancashire, in July 2026. Image: BAE Systems
Tempest demonstrator in final assembly ahead of planned first flight in 2027
BAE Systems' new Tempest prototype, otherwise known as the Combat Air Flying Demonstrator (CAFD), has passed the halfway point in final assembly, with its rollout and first flight remaining on track for 2027.
SSTL racks up smart storage solution
SSTL racks up smart storage solution
A smart racking solution from Altus has helped Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) integrate its materials management processes.
Member News Space

5 Aug 2026

Seraphim Space deploys first capital from £137m C share raise
Seraphim Space deploys first capital from £137m C share raise
The investments have been made in businesses involved in key areas that are driving the next phase of growth within the space sector.
Member News Space

4 Aug 2026

AccelerComm underpins Eclipse Space’s 5G physical layer for satellite constellations
UK From Space-Telecom
AccelerComm underpins Eclipse Space’s 5G physical layer for satellite constellations
Flight-proven 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) tech from Southampton based AccelerComm, is supporting a scalable direct-to-device and broadband architecture from Starlink veterans behind Eclipse Space.
Member News Space

31 Jul 2026

Manufacturers warn Government over UK steel import tariffs
UK steel manufacturing
Manufacturers warn Government over UK steel import tariffs
As a petition highlighting the negative impact of Government-imposed steel import tariffs on UK manufacturing surpasses 10,000 signatures, industry calls for an urgent review.
UK AISI test exposes AI agent’s attempt to plant malicious code
Lockheed martin cybersecurity
UK AISI test exposes AI agent’s attempt to plant malicious code
The UK’s AI Security Institute uncovered unexpectedly autonomous and deceptive behaviour during a cyber evaluation, including an attempted attack on open-source software.
Most Read Security

5 Aug 2026

CAA explores future for BVLOS drone ops
Amazon PrimeAir MK30 drone
CAA explores future for BVLOS drone ops
A new report from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) outlines a vision for enabling routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) commercial drone operations alongside existing UK airspace users.
Aerospace Security

3 Aug 2026