- Type 45 Destroyers to receive significant upgrade as the UK
to become the first European nation to operate a Maritime
Ballistic Missile Defence detect and destroy capability.
- UK have joined tri-national ASTER Block 1 missile programme
with France and Italy.
- Full upgrade programme worth more than £300 million,
supporting more than 100 jobs, including highly skilled roles in
Stevenage, Cowes, Bristol and Bolton.
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.
The Ministry of Defence 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.
Defence Procurement Minister, 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.
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 , 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.
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.
