Royal Navy Getting 16 Phalanx Block 1B Upgrade Kits for $57M
Related Stories: Britain/U.K., Guns - 20-59 mm direct, Other Corporation, Protective Systems - Naval, Raytheon, Support Functions - Other
Devonport Royal Dockyard Limited (DRDL) has awarded Raytheon’s UK subsidiary (Raytheon Systems Limited) a $57 million contract to produce 16 Phalanx Block 1B upgrade kits for the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. All 16 kits will be produced at Raytheon Missile System’s Louisville, KY, facility and installed at DRDL. The upgrade will involve introducing new, or replacing, about 20% of the components, and will require significant changes to the software.
The first two kits will be delivered in September 2007, with the remaining kits following during a six-year period. According to a subsequent MoD release, The Type 42 frigate HMS Southampton will be the first ship to receive the Phalanx 1B, with a planned in-service date of May 2008.
Paul Gilligan, head of platform integration for Raytheon’s UK subsidiary, was quoted saying that “This upgrade is vitally important, especially in the context of the evolving threats worldwide… It provides protection to ships and their crews against an increased number of threats including small, fast gunboats; standard and guided artillery; helicopters; mines and a variety of shore-launched, anti-ship missiles.” MK 15 Phalanx Block 1B will also be the base platform for the new SeaRAM short range anti-air missile system, in use by the USA, Germany, Korea, and others.
