The UK Royal Navy’s new attack submarine, to be named HMS Audacious will be equipped with an inertial navigation system (INS) under a contract awarded to navigation and positioning systems company IXSEA from the prime contractor BAE Systems.
As per the contract announced at this year’s Defence Systems & Equipment International event in London, the company will equip the navy’s fourth Astute Class nuclear-attack submarine with its MARINS fibre-optic INS that is designed to provide highly accurate attitude and position data for navigation and weapon systems.
The contract, initially for HMS Audacious, also includes options for BAE Systems Submarine Solutions to use MARINS navigation system for the fifth and seventh Astute Class submarines which are planned to be laid down.
The fourth of the Astute Class submarines to be named HMS Audacious is expected to enter Royal Navy service around 2012.
