# BAeSEMA

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**BAESEMA** was a naval technology joint venture between [British Aerospace](/source/British_Aerospace) and the French [Sema Group](/source/Sema_Group). The company was formed in 1991 and dissolved in November 1998 when BAe purchased SEMA's 50% share.[1]

BAESEMA acquired Dowty-Sema in 1992, another naval system joint venture between Dowty Group and Sema.[2]

## Capabilities

- **Naval combat management systems** - [Type 23 frigate](/source/Type_23_frigate) – command and control system - [*Vanguard*-class submarine](/source/Vanguard-class_submarine) [ballistic missile submarine](/source/Ballistic_missile_submarine) – command and control system
- **Warship prime contracting** - [HMS *Scott*](/source/HMS_Scott_(H131)) [ocean survey vessel](/source/Survey_ship) – (building subcontracted to [Appledore Shipbuilders](/source/Appledore_Shipbuilders))
- **Communications**
- **IT**

## History

From BAe's perspective BAESEMA was an attempt to increase its capabilities as a naval prime contractor. This was not entirely successful for two reasons:

- A customer was more likely to choose a prime contractor with shipbuilding experience and capabilities.
- Another shipbuilder was unwilling to team with the company because as prime contractor BAESEMA would effectively control that shipbuilder.

BAESEMA's major competitor in the UK naval systems market was [GEC-Marconi](/source/Marconi_Electronic_Systems) through its [Ferranti Naval Systems](/source/Ferranti) and [Plessey Naval Systems](/source/Plessey) businesses.

On November 11, 1998, BAe acquired Sema's interest in the company for £77 million and merged it into [British Aerospace Defence Ltd](/source/British_Aerospace_Defence). BAe's naval capabilities increased dramatically in the next year, its acquisition of [Marconi Electronic Systems](/source/Marconi_Electronic_Systems) to form [BAE Systems](/source/BAE_Systems) saw it take control of Marconi Marine's shipyards; [VSEL](/source/Vickers_Shipbuilding_and_Engineering) (Barrow-in-Furness), [Govan](/source/Govan) (Glasgow) and [YSL](/source/Yarrow_Shipbuilders_Ltd) (Scotstoun).

## References

1. ["British Aerospace plc"](https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/ap19055/british-aerospace-plc). *Science Museum Group Collection*. Retrieved 2025-06-03.

1. ["Profits lift off for BAe joint venture"](https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12618132.profits-lift-off-for-bae-joint-venture/). *The Herald Scotland*. 1993-03-05. Retrieved 2025-06-03.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [BAeSEMA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAeSEMA) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAeSEMA?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.