Siemens and Rolls-Royce Submarines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration on both digital optimisation and efficiency boosts across engineering in order to support the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet.
The MoU will seek to encourage shared collaboration between the two companies with an ultimate goal to minimise the time to production for new Rolls-Royce technology, whilst simultaneously reducing both overall cost and risk.
Rolls-Royce Submarines currently provides in-service support for pressurised water reactors that power boats in the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet – with the company currently aiding the existing Astute and Dreadnought boat build programmes through the delivery of reactor plant and associated components.
The company also provides frontline support for reactor plant equipment from its Derby Operations Centre, as well as support for submarines whilst laid in the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, as well as the naval bases at both Devonport and Faslane.
As part of the collaboration between Siemens and Rolls-Royce Submarines; the former will provide the latter with both software and hardware from its Xcelerator open business platform that aims to enhance productivity, security and agility.
Brian Holliday Managing Director, Digital Industries at Siemens UK and Ireland, said:The agreement strengthens and formalises a 25-year long Siemens and Rolls-Royce relationship. We recognise the potential of industrial technology to unlock productivity in design, manufacturing, operations and supply chain.
As technology and the external environment develops at pace, the imperative for closer collaboration and best practice is clear. Siemens commits to deeply understanding the digital transformation and operational challenges faced by Rolls-Royce Submarines and bringing to bear the full weight of our industry-leading technology stack, sector expertise and wider partner ecosystem.
Lee Warren, Rolls-Royce Submarines Engineering & Technology Director, said:Harnessing the power of digital, and collaborating with global experts such as Siemens, will make us more efficient and ultimately provide an enhanced service to the Royal Navy by getting submarines in the sea quicker and accelerating the maintenance of those already in service.
