The Type 26 frigates, scheduled for delivery to the Royal Navy in the mid-2020s - BAE providing Maritime Indirect Fire System for Type 26 By Tom Dunlop - February 28, 202387

 

BAE Systems, Inc. has received a £181mn contract to equip the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates with five Mk 45 Maritime Indirect Fire Systems (MIFS).

The system combines the 5-inch, 62-caliber Mk 45 Mod 4A naval gun system with a fully automated Ammunition Handling System (AHS).

“We have innovated and customized the Mk 45 system to provide a critical and reliable fully-automatic ammunition handling solution that revolutionizes medium and large calibre naval gunnery,” said Brent Butcher, vice president of the weapon systems product line at BAE Systems, in a news release.

The Type 26 frigates, scheduled for delivery to the Royal Navy in the mid-2020s, represent one of the world’s most advanced classes of warships, specifically designed for anti-submarine warfare. In addition to an array of advanced weaponry and sensors, these frigates possess the ability to counter piracy and provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

An automated naval gun solution has been developed to enhance the frigates’ world-class capabilities. This solution, say BAE, is expected to increase crew productivity, mitigate safety hazards for sailors, and improve the operational effectiveness of the frigates, which play a crucial role in protecting the Royal Navy’s Continuous At Sea Deterrent and Carrier Strike Group.

The engineering and programme support required for this project will be carried out at BAE Systems’ Minneapolis and Louisville, Kentucky production facilities.