Type 45 Destroyer May Incorporate Ballistic Missile Defense

The Ministry of Defense from the United Kingdom is looking into the potential of the Type 45 destroyer for ballistic missile defense. For the first time, a Type 45 destroyer will be included in a trial as part of a major research and development program.

The Samson radar, which is part of the Sea Viper missile system, will be tested in detecting and tracking ballistic missile targets. The trial will be conducted in cooperation with the United States Navy and the Missile Defense Agency.

The Royal Navy currently has 4 Type 45 / Daring class destroyers with another 2 to be commissioned later this year. They are:

• HMS Daring (D32) commissioned on 7/23/2009
• HMS Dauntless (D33) commissioned on 6/3/2010
• HMS Diamond (D34) commissioned on 5/6/2011
• HMS Dragon (D35) commissioned on 4/20/2012
• HMS Defender (D36)
• HMS Duncan (D37)

The Type 45 specifications are:

• a length of 152 m
• a beam of 21.2 m
• a complement of 190
• a maximum range of 13000km
• a displacement of 8000 tons

The destroyers are fitted with:

• one 4.5 inch Mk8 main gun
• 6x8 Sylver A50 VLS with Aster 15 or Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles
• two 6-barrel 20 mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems
• two 30 mm guns

There is a large hangar for a Lynx or Merlin helicopter. The Type 45 will succeed the Type 42 destroyers in service.


https://www.gov.uk/government/news/royal-navy-destroyer-to-join-ballistic-defence-trial

By U.S. Navy [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By U.S. Navy photo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons