A BAE Systems and VT Group joint venture
Destroyers
The Type 45 Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers will provide the backbone of the Royal Navy's air defences for much of the first half of the 21st century. They will be able to engage a large number of targets simultaneously and defend aircraft carriers or groups of ships, such as an amphibious landing force, against the strongest future threats from the air.
A versatile warship, the Type 45 will provide unprecedented detection and defensive capability and vastly improved living standards when the First of Class, Daring, enters service in 2009.They will be capable of contributing to worldwide maritime and joint operations in multi-threat environments, providing a specialist air-warfare capability.
The Type 45's main armament is the Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS), a world-beating surface-to-air missile system developed under a trinational programme by France, Italy and the UK. This advanced weapon system will defend the Type 45, her consorts and other task force vessels against highly manoeuvrable hostile incoming aircraft and missiles approaching at subsonic and supersonic speed, individually or in salvoes.
Six of the class of up to eight ships are on order for the Royal Navy. They are Daring, launched on February 1st 2006, Dauntless, launched on January 23rd 2007, Diamond, launched on November 27th 2007, Dragon, Defender and Duncan.
BVT, working in partnership with BAE Systems Insyte, runs the Type 45 Maritime Integration and Support Centre (MISC). This Portsmouth based facility is a purpose built combat system integration, test and trials facility and its key role is to offer a facility and services that support and add value to current and future naval platforms in the development and integration of combat and mission systems.
BVT is also working on innovative future concept ships such as the UXV. This Destroyer platform, which has been dubbed "The Mothership" by the media has been designed to be used as a home base for future unmanned land, air and sea systems.
