BAE awards multimillion-pound submarine IT contract

Newcomer Carillion IT Services wins deal on grounds of flexibility

[image_library_tag 262/123262, title="Astute class submarine [image BAE Systems]" alt="Astute class submarine [image BAE Systems]" border="0" width="185" height="110" ,default]

Artist's impression of Astute Class submarine [image BAE Systems]

Defence contractor BAE Systems has signed a multimillion-pound IT outsourcing deal with Carillion IT Services to support a £3.8bn deal to construct three Astute class submarines for the Royal Navy.

Carillion won the deal from CSC, to which BAE outsources most of its IT, because it offered a more flexible service.

The company will provide support functions including a dedicated IT helpdesk onsite at Barrow, where the submarines are being constructed, as well as assisting with design.

Carillion will also be responsible for providing and protecting the entire IT infrastructure for the project, for which data security is vital.

The deal will support about 4,500 BAE users, who have already reported a rise in satisfaction with their IT services.

Carillion will also provide engineering design support for two aircraft carriers currently under construction and due to enter service after 2014.