Portsmouth-based Qinetiq and the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) are set to begin a £23 million redevelopment project at Portsdown Technology Park and create up to 100 jobs.

Continuing its partnership with the Royal Navy, Qinetiq (www.QinetiQ.com) is investing over £18 million in a brand-new building that will increase the site’s capacity and transform it into a centre of excellence for maritime mission systems.

The investment is supported by another £5 million Local Growth Fund investment from the Solent LEP.

This will unlock innovation-led growth through the creation of a combat system engineering academy, engaging more businesses in knowledge transfer and developing links to more higher-education institutes.

An innovation and collaboration hub — sponsored by the Solent LEP as part of the redevelopment — will offer opportunities for SMEs to attract the best local talent and develop maritime mission system solutions for UK and international markets.

Steve Fitz-Gerald, managing director (maritime, land and weapons), said: “This investment delivers a step change in the Solent region’s ability to export to the world’s marine and maritime defence markets, with a range of capabilities unparalleled in the UK.

"It builds on our commitment to modernise the UK’s test and evaluation capability, ensuring that it continues to support the safety and the operational advantage of our armed forces.”

News of the investment follows the announcement in September last year that Qinetiq is to provide combat systems expertise for the Royal Navy’s future Type 26 Global Combat Ships.

This £8 million deal is an amendment to the existing Naval Combat System Integration Support Services contract, first signed in 2012 and renewed (for £110 million) for another 11 years in 2016.

For over 45 years, Portsdown Technology Park has integrated and tested complex combat and communications equipment and software for all Royal Navy warships, prior to their deployment at sea. Recent examples include BAE Systems’ Artisan surveillance radar and MBDA’s Sea Ceptor Air Defence System.