BAE System’s Final Type 45 Destroyer Begins Sea Trials

BAE Systems’ sixth and final Type 45 destroyer, the DUNCAN, has entered the first stage of sea trials today. Extensive programme trials will include testing of her power and propulsion systems, auxiliary and domestic services. Paul Rafferty, Type 45 Programme Director at BAE Systems, said, “This is the sixth Type 45 destroyer to embark on sea trials, but there will be no complacency in the rigor with which we will put her through her paces and prove her outstanding capabilities. Every stage in the delivery of the Type 45 destroyers brings an enormous amount of pride to those who have worked on the programme and there’s a special significance attached now that all six ships have sailed the seas”. The UK Royal Navy will take delivery of DUNCAN in the first half on next year. The Type 45s will provide the backbone of the UK’s naval air defences for the next 30 years and beyond. The destroyers are capable of carrying out a wide range of operations, including anti-piracy and anti-smuggling activities, disaster relief work and surveillance operations as well as high intensity war fighting. Each destroyer 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. The vessels will contribute a specialist air warfare capability to worldwide maritime and joint operations.