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The UK Mininstry of Defence has placed a GBP 100 million contract (about $178 million at current conversion) with BAE Systems Insyte for “a very sophisticated system which can replicate the combat command systems used across most of our major surface warships, including the aircraft carriers, as well as the new Type 45 destroyers now under construction.” New facilities will be installed in Devonport Naval Base and the shore base HMS Collingwood near Portsmouth, in time to be ready to train Type 45 destroyer crews later this decade. The idea is that men and women who ‘fight the ship’ in computerized command centers will be better prepared for combat and emergencies. The simulation system will be specifically designed for easy upgrade and technology improvement, and is a long-term investment that is expected to remain in service past 2040.
DID has covered Britain’s CVF future carrier project. Regarding the UK’s Type 45 Daring Class destroyers, they will be anti-air warfare specialty platforms that use the PAAMS combat system integrating the Alenia Marconi Sampson radar and MBDA Aster 15/ Aster 30 missiles. They will have less multi-role capability than the AEGIS-based DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class, however, or Australia’s SEA 4000 Air Warfare Destroyer project.