Click here - to select or create a menu

Naval News

Palfinger
  • News
  • Event News
    • Indo Pacific 2022
    • Sea Air Space 2022
    • DIMDEX 2022
    • WDS 2022
    • DSEI 2021
    • MADEX 2021
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Home» News»UK’s Type 45 Destroyers set for BMD Upgrade
ASTER Sea Viper HMS Dragon Type 45
HMS Dragon a Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer carries out a successful firing of a Sea Viper missile in the Atlantic off the Hebride Isles. 27 May 2021. File picture: Royal Navy

UK’s Type 45 Destroyers set for BMD Upgrade

The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence announced that the Royal Navy Daring-class (Type 45) destroyers will receive a ballistic missile defence (BMD) upgrade.

Naval News Staff 25 May 2022

UK Defence Equipment & Support press release

The UK is set to become the first European nation to operate a Maritime Ballistic Missile Defence capability that can detect and destroy Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles as it commits to a significant upgrade of Britain’s fleet of Type 45 destroyers. 

The upgraded defence system, using the ASTER 30 Block 1 missile previously used only in French and Italian land systems, will help UK forces combat the increasing threats posed by anti-ship ballistic missiles at sea by developing the missile into a maritime variant.

DE&S has placed an initial contract for this work with MBDA, which when delivered, will be worth more than £300 million and support more than 100 jobs across the UK – including highly skilled technology roles in areas such as system design and software engineering in Stevenage, Cowes, Bristol and Bolton.

The initial contract was placed by the Maritime Anti-air Weapons Systems (MAWS) team at DE&S.

MAWS team leader Captain Matt Stratton, said:

“I am delighted to have concluded this key activity and we now enter the incredibly exciting challenge to deliver the capability into the hands of the Royal Navy.”

Upgrading the defensive capability of the Type 45 fleet was committed to in the Defence Command Paper, as part of the Integrated Review last year. Being able to defend against anti-ship ballistic missiles will add to the current capability of the Destroyers to defeat threats from the air.

The signing of the tri-national agreement is the first formal step in the upgrade of the six vessels, which will include converting existing missiles to the ASTER 30 Block 1 standard, as well as updates to the SAMPSON multi-function radar (MFR) and Sea Viper command and control missile system, under the full Sea Viper Evolution programme.

Sea Viper’s upgrade will boost the lethality of the Type 45 vessels, helping to ensure the Royal Navy remains poised to defend the surface fleet and the Maritime Strike Group against complex air threats both now and into the future.

DE&S CEO Sir Simon Bollom, said:

“This demonstrates the UK commitment to delivering a cutting-edge maritime Air Defence Capability. Sea Viper Evolution will deliver a significant uplift in capability and brings to a close many years of detailed planning and activity by the Maritime Air and Weapons team in DE&S.”

The Sea Viper Evolution programme follows the recent contract awards to introduce the Common Anti Air Modular Missile (CAMM) into the Type 45, which will see the missile outload of the platform increased from 48 to 72 missiles.

DSEI 2021: CAMM to up firepower for Type 45 Destroyers

The Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers are among the most advanced in the fleet and carry out a range of activity, including defence from air attack, counter-piracy operations and providing humanitarian aid.

Defence Procurement Minister, Jeremy Quin said:

“As we face global uncertainty, alliances and greater defensive capability are more important than ever. Joining our French and Italian counterparts will see us collectively improve the cutting-edge technology our armed forces possess.

“It is another example of us delivering on the commitments from the Defence Command Paper, helping protect our service personnel when faced with the most severe threats.”

BMD Royal Navy Type 45 2022-05-25
Tags BMD Royal Navy Type 45
Facebook Twitter Stumble linkedin Pinterest More

Related Articles

Royal Navy and JMSDF conduct drills in English Channel

Royal Navy and JMSDF conduct drills in English Channel

Naval News Staff 22 Jun 2022
Royal Navy's River-class patrol ship HMS Mersey and Echo-class survey vessel HMS Enterprise carried out bilateral exercises with JMDSF ships JS Kashima and JS Shimakaze off the Dorset coast in the English Channel.
HMS Audacious Completes 1st NATO Patrol in Mediterranean

HMS Audacious Completes 1st NATO Patrol in Mediterranean

Naval News Staff 16 Jun 2022
The Royal Navy’s newest and most advanced nuclear attack submarine, HMS Audacious, carried out NATO security patrols in the Mediterranean on her maiden operational deployment.
Royal Navy to upgrade Tomahawk stocks to Block V

Royal Navy to upgrade Tomahawk stocks to Block V

Naval News Staff 02 Jun 2022
The Royal Navy’s stock of Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles will be upgraded on Royal Navy submarines to ensure the weapon is even more effective against future threats.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Legal / Privacy Policy
About Us
Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 Naval News
All Rights Reserved
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok