Investing.com -- The British government has awarded a £285 million contract to BAE Systems (LON: BAES ) to upgrade the Royal Navy's combat systems.

This upgrade will increase the navy's capability to detect, analyze, and react to threats during combat.

The contract announcement follows the recent sighting of a Russian spy vessel in the English Channel.

The government is making sure to increasing countermeasures against covert operations by Russian ships and aircraft, focusing on protecting undersea communication cables.