Specialist IT and software firm SciSys, which has a base in Bristol, has landed work with the MoD worth a potential £3m as it continues to build its defence expertise.
Under the contract, the firm is to help develop a new cutting-edge support system for Royal Navy warships. 
SciSys, which develops high-end software for a range of sectors, said an initial one-year phase of work was valued at £1.2m but there was potential for this to grow to £3m as subsequent phases are commenced during the next two years.
The contract was awarded through the MoD’s Framework Agreement for Technical Support Design & Engineering framework.
It build on work SciSys has already carried out to deliver research and software development services to the MoD’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) – an agency that ensures that innovative science and technology contribute to the defence and security of the UK.
The latest project will create and demonstrate a new decision support system for use by the Navy which will exploit emerging technologies and the latest human factors designs, enabling better tactical decision-making against increasingly complex air threats.
SciSys has a branch office in Brislington and its head office in Chippenham.
SciSys divisional director of enterprise solutions & defence, Andy Whitehead, said: “I am immensely proud of this win, which adds to our reputation for the reliable delivery of innovative R&D for Dstl. This extends SciSys’ reach into the area of tactical combat systems in surface warships.”
SciSys CEO Klaus Heidrich added: “I am delighted SciSys can announce another significant project win in maritime defence, which has become one of our focal areas in recent years.
“It perfectly adds to our overall growth objectives, substantiates the positive outlook we have announced earlier and demonstrates the ability of our enterprise solutions & defence division to successfully take their business to new areas.”
Shares in SciSys, which also works with the media & broadcast, space, government and commercial sectors, climbed 3.55% to 87.5 after the contract was announced, continuing a strong run which has pushed them to near their two-year high.
SciSys employs 450 staff across its offices in Chippenham, Bristol, Leicester and Reading and two in Germany.
