Rolls-Royce has won a second service contract from the UK's Ministry of Defence to operate and maintain the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment site at Dounreay, Scotland over the next 13 years. Rolls-Royce said that the power plant support package was worth $160 million over the next three years. Future programmes envisaged for 2004-2011 were potentially worth a further $460 million.
A key element of the Vulcan contract will be confirming the performance and safety of the long-life reactor core, part of the propulsion plant manufactured by Rolls-Royce. This type of core will power the new Astute class of submarines for their full platform life and will also be retrofitted to the Vanguard class. Rolls-Royce has operated the Vulcan site since 1964. The company designed, supplied and supported all the reactor systems and equipment that powers the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine fleet.
