COBHAM plc has been awarded a £5 million contract to supply its specialist Air Traffic Control (ATC) system software for use on the Royal Navy's two new aircraft carriers.

Part of a £51 million equipment contracts package for the Ministry of Defence's Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales, the Wimborne-based business will supply BAE Systems Insyte with the software over a three-year period.

Cobham chief executive Allan Cook said: "We have provided over 120 ATC solutions to customers around the world over the last 15 years, so it's very satisfying to know that the next generation of UK aircraft carriers will be equipped with Cobham systems."

The software provided by Cobham incorporates advanced flight planning, radar display and decision making capabilities in a system that is enhanced for a moving airfield and can be used across the globe.

It enables the Royal Navy's air traffic controllers to provide safe and efficient control of aircraft on the new carriers using a system that is already used by the forces in homeland defence systems, and many other civilian and military installations around the world.

Minister for defence equipment and support Baroness Taylor said: "An equipment programme of this scale has clear benefits not only to the Royal Navy and UK shipyards but to industry throughout the country.

"It truly is a national project. Defence equipment and support continues to work closely with industry to deliver the capabilities our Armed Forces need for now and the future."

The £3 billion contract to build the MoD's two new aircraft carriers was signed in July with a new UK maritime joint venture, formed by BAE Systems and VT Group, called BVT Surface Fleet, and the Aircraft Carrier Alliance.