NATO has awarded UK-based firm JFD a 63-million-pound ($76 million) contract to continue providing in-service support for the alliance’s Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) program.
NSRS specializes in missions associated with distressed submarines of the British, Norwegian, and French naval forces.
As part of the contract, JFD will continue delivering safety-critical operational assurance services for the sub-surface rescue capabilities of participating countries.
Work for the program will start in the summer of 2023 and run for five years. The contract includes an option to extend support for a total of nine years.
“This decision firmly places JFD as the world leader in submarine rescue provision,” JFD Managing Director Richard Dellar stated.
“Safeguarding the lives of submariners around the world is our number one priority. The all-too-long list of submarine incidents globally poses as a stark reminder of the critical nature of the services JFD provides.”
Maintaining Submarine Operation Assurance
JFD has been among the UK’s industry partners for submarine rescue development since 1983. The company has assisted the NSRS since its 2008 launch.
Throughout the course of its support for the program, JFD has participated in 18 sub-sea mobilization exercises and has continued to develop solutions in the submarine escape and rescue field.
For the latest agreement, the firm will integrate digitization techniques and leverage operational insights and system knowledge honed from the second in-service support contract in 2015.
“NSRS will continue to form a key part of JFD’s global submarine rescue community along with Australia, Singapore, India and the other nations we support,” Dellar said.
“We are committed to work alongside the NSRS Authority to ensure the highest levels of operational assurance are always achieved.”