The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded TKMS ATLAS UK a contract to develop and supply a next-generation torpedo countermeasure system for the Royal Navy’s existing and future submarine fleet.
The programme, known as the Next Generation Countermeasure (NGCM), forms part of the Royal Navy’s broader Underwater Defensive Aids Suite. Under the programme, TKMS ATLAS UK will collaborate with Babcock, which will contribute countermeasure launcher technology and platform-integration expertise for submarines currently in service.
Next-Generation Underwater Defence
The NGCM system is being developed to address evolving and emerging underwater threats facing submarines. The programme will follow a spiral development approach, enabling the countermeasure capability to be progressively enhanced and adapted as threat environments and operational requirements change.
The approach is intended to ensure that the system remains relevant throughout its service life while allowing new technologies and capabilities to be incorporated over time.
Contract Details
TKMS ATLAS UK and the UK Ministry of Defence have not disclosed the contract’s exact financial value. However, a government procurement notice issued in April 2024 indicated that the programme could have an estimated value of approximately £35 million ($47 million).
The contract is expected to run from October 2025 through October 2032, covering the development and supply of the next-generation countermeasure capability.
According to TKMS ATLAS UK, the programme is also expected to support approximately 80 jobs in the United Kingdom, contributing to the country’s specialist underwater defence and maritime technology industrial base.
The NGCM programme is intended to strengthen the Royal Navy’s ability to protect its submarines against increasingly sophisticated torpedo threats while providing a technology pathway that can evolve alongside future underwater warfare requirements.
