First steel cut for U.K. Type 45 destroyer

Sea Power, Jul 2003

BAE Systems has cut steel for the first unit of the Daring-class (Type 45) destroyers at its Govan Shipyard. The first six units of the class have already been contracted. BAE Systems received two awards worth $1.4 billion (weapons and sensors not included) for the first two batches: December 2001 for units 1-3 and February 2002 for units 4-6. The first-of-class, HMS Daring, is expected to be commissioned by 2008 and will be followed by five additional units through 2011.

The initial Type 45 program included 12 destroyers. With only the first six contracted for, there has been considerable speculation that not all 12 ships will be built. Current funding estimates have determined that the program is approximately $ I billion short of the funding required to complete the program at 12 units (at a unit cost of $933 million). If units seven through 12 are to be built, construction should begin in 2006 and would likely show some different equipment: they may include land-at-tack and theater ballistic-missile-defense capabilities.