New Type 45 in Production
Fri, March 28, 2003
Source: MoD Navy
Defence Procurement Minister Lord Bach today officially launched production of HMS Daring, first of the new Type 45 class AAW destroyers
Defence Procurement Minister Lord Bach today officially launched production of HMS Daring, first of the new Type 45 class of Anti-Air Warfare Destroyer, at BAE Systems' shipyard at Govan in Glasgow.
At around 7,350 tonnes in weight and over 150 metres long, the Type 45s will be the biggest and most powerful air defence destroyers ever built for the Royal Navy. The current contract, with BAE Systems as the Prime Contractor, is for six ships with orders for further ships expected later in the decade. The ships will be built by BAE Systems on the Clyde and by Vosper Thornycroft at Portsmouth.
Equipped with the world-leading Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS), the Type 45 will provide a quantum leap in technology when it is introduced later in the decade.
Lord Bach said:
"When HMS Daring enters service, she will set new standards in anti-air warfare. The Type 45 represents a 21st Century response to the most sophisticated threats that might face UK or allied ships in the years to come.
"When allied to the new aircraft carriers, our new attack submarines, and to a range of other new amphibious and support vessels currently under construction, this demonstrates our firm commitment to maintaining and enhancing our maritime capabilities. This programme of new warship construction is the largest in the country for years and is creating and sustaining large numbers of jobs at shipyards across the UK.
"The design phase of this project, which is now reaching its conclusion, has been a tremendous success for all involved. The Type 45 moves into production with a level of design maturity that far exceeds what has been possible on previous warship programmes. While building a warship remains an extremely complex business, the progress made on design will bring real benefits during the construction process."
The cost of the first six ships is expected to be about £4.3 billion and their construction is expected to sustain over 2,000 jobs on the Clyde and around 650 at Vosper Thornycroft in Portsmouth. In addition, many other UK companies are benefiting from work on the programme, including over 30 who are sub-contracted to the prime contractor. The In Service date for the first Type 45 is 2007.
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