UK Team to Resolve Type 45 Destroyer Power Issues
An alliance team led by BAE Systems has won the contract to resolve propulsion issues that have been plaguing the U.K.’s most advanced air defense warships.
The team, which also includes Cammell Laird and BMT, has been tasked to improve the resilience in the Royal Navy’s Type 45 Destroyer power and propulsion system by replacing the existing two diesel generators, fitting an additional diesel generator and modifying the high voltage system on each ship.
The warships had reportedly suffered a number of breakdowns at sea due to problems with their propulsion systems.
The BAE-led group was appointed under the U.K. Ministry of Defense’s Type 45 Power Improvement Project (PIP), and together won the contract and signed a charter on board HMS Diamond with representatives from the Royal Navy and MoD earlier this week.
The scope of the PIP competition was split into two lots, comprising major procurement, design and integration of the solution, and the physical installation and replacement of equipment on board the Type 45 vessels. The team competed in and won both lots, with work set to begin immediately.
The installation and replacement of equipment is planned to take place at Cammell Laird’s shipyard in Birkenhead, Merseyside, before a series of harbor and sea trials will enable the ships to return to their home at Portsmouth Naval Base, where they will return to Royal Navy operations supported by BAE Systems.
“By combining the collective knowledge, experience and skills of BAE Systems, Cammell Laird and BMT we are demonstrating our commitment to present a robust technical solution with an innovative commercial alliance,” said David Mitchard, Managing Director, BAE Systems Maritime Services. “Our aim is to rapidly restore command confidence in the power and propulsion system of the Type 45 fleet, demonstrate value for money and safeguard vital skills for future generations of warship support.”
Jeremy Berwick, Managing Director, BMT Defense and Security, said, “We firmly believe in the power of teamwork and this agreement sets the seal on the coming together of three highly complementary partners to form the very best team. We look forward to working with our partners to deliver a fresh, lean and rapid solution for the Royal Navy.”
Linton Roberts, Managing Director, Cammell Laird, said, “This highly collaborative approach is very much in line with the Government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy by maximizing the effectiveness of the complementary expertise and experience of each partner. The Ministry of Defense has driven a challenging competition for this contract, and we are confident that our Alliance will deliver a very innovative technical solution to the Royal Navy.”
