Combat Systems Engineers

A national resource supporting the generation of the Royal Navy’s operational capability 

Portsdown Technology Park provides the Royal Navy with testing and integration facilities for Combat System equipment on complex warships, meeting the requirements of DEFSTAN 21-88. PTP also hosts the Shore Integration Facility (SIF) and National Maritime Systems Centre (NMSC), which host a large amount of combat system and military equipment. This equipment is used to support functional integration, performance assessment, research, development, training and operational defect investigation. The facility is operated, maintained and managed by QinetiQ following processes that ensure appropriate and effective safety, security, configurability, availability and reliability. Using skilled engineers, synthetic test environments, secure facilities and the site’s unique geography and topography, highly skilled cross-industry teams enable the MOD and industry partners to achieve maximum value from its equipment supply chain and ensure the availability of safe, effective mission systems.

Portsdown Hill

Our site is situated at the top of Portsdown Hill and overlooks Portsmouth, and the surrounding areas. To the east along the M27 is Chichester (17 miles), to the north is Winchester (23miles) and Southampton (16 miles) is out to the west. Surrounding the site we have Portsdown, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. We encourage visitors to take in the flora and fauna, as well as the amazing views the hill has to offer. The area is also home to some impressive wildlife with numerous paths and walkways.

The Naval Combat Systems Integration Support Service (NCSISS)

Operational performance and safety, including combat safety, depend on the integration of the various individual systems that contribute to military capability, into one cohesive system of systems. The Naval Combat Systems Integration Support Service (NCSISS) delivers the necessary integration, test, evaluation and acceptance activities across all phases of the equipment lifecycle to support the development and delivery of operationally safe Combat System capability. It enables those that are Held to Account in MOD and industry to make informed decisions based on objective, credible evidence that is generated by experts in an environment that is demonstrably free from supply chain conflict of interest. 

A unique capability 

NCSISS operates from Portsdown Technology Park (PTP). Through the blend of skilled engineers, synthetic test environments, secure facilities and the site’s unique geography and topography, highly skilled cross-industry teams enable the MOD to achieve maximum value from its equipment supply chain and ensure the availability of safe, effective mission systems. QinetiQ’s and BAE Systems’ combined facilities host operational equipment (sensors, weapons, command & control, communications) in an environment that is: – Accessible to and trusted by suppliers; – Capable of live, synthetic or mixed trials representing any operational context from Peace Time to High End War Fighting; – Flexible enough to replicate any current (or near future) operational configuration. A long proven, cost effective model for undertaking integration, test, evaluation and assurance of Combat Systems ashore, the facilities at PTP minimise the demand for sea trials and the use of operational assets. This saves money and makes a significant contribution towards MOD’s sustainability targets

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