BAE Systems has received a $245 million contract to provide gun systems for the U.K.'s Type 26 Global Combat Ship, the company announced.
The deal to provide the Maritime Indirect Fires System, or MIFS, comes after the U.K. Ministry of Defense selected BAE as the preferred bidder after last year's competitive process, BAE said in a statement.
The contract calls for BAE to manufacture three MIFS Integrated Gunnery Systems and one trainer system for the Royal Navy, as well as an automated ammunition handling system, gun fire control system and qualified ammunition.
MIFS features the 5-inch, 62-caliber Mk 45 Mod 4 gun system.
An option for five additional systems for the remainder of the Type 26 fleet is also included in the deal.
The Mk 45 is in service with the U.S. Navy and 10 other nations, with more than 240 of the guns having been delivered into service globally, BAE said.
Work on the contract will be done in Kentucky, Minnesota and several U.K. sites, with deliveries expected to begin in 2020.
The U.K. government committed to buy eight Type 26 ships in its 2015 defense and security review in a move that will see the new ship replace the Type 23 frigates.
