Destroyer
Type 45 destroyer (Daring-class)
The Type 45 (Daring class) is a British air-defence destroyer built by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy, in service since 2009. Six ships carry the Sea Viper system with Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles, and it remains in use only by the Royal Navy.
United Kingdom|BAE Systems MaritimeWhat Is the Type 45 destroyer (Daring-class)? Overview, History and Development
The six ships are Daring (2009), Dauntless (2010), Diamond (2011), Dragon (2012), Defender (2013) and Duncan (2013), built at Govan and Scotstoun. Displacement is about 8,500 t full load, length 152.4 m, beam 21.2 m, speed above 30 knots, and crew about 191. Sea Viper (PAAMS) uses 48 Sylver A50 cells with the SAMPSON radar and S1850M surveillance radar, which reportedly tracks more than 1,000 targets. Twelve ships were once planned, cut to eight and then six due to cost.
Early reliability problems with the WR-21 gas turbines in warm waters led to a Power Improvement Project adding three diesel generators per ship, with work continuing into the mid-2020s. The programme cost about £6.46 billion, roughly £1 billion per ship. HMS Diamond fired Sea Viper missiles in combat against Houthi drones and anti-ship missiles in the Red Sea from December 2023 to 2024. A Type 83 destroyer is planned from the late 2030s. Rivals include Arleigh Burke and Horizon.
Type 45 destroyer (Daring-class) Specifications: Displacement, Speed, Armament and Crew
Type 45 destroyer (Daring-class) Variants and Versions Compared
Type 45 is the original configuration with two WR-21 gas turbines and two diesel generators.
Type 45 with PIP adds three extra diesel generators per ship to fix early reliability problems.
Daring-class is the formal name of the six-ship class, led by HMS Daring.
Which Countries Use the Type 45 destroyer (Daring-class)? Operators and Users
United KingdomType 45 destroyer (Daring-class) FAQ: Price, Range, Operators and Most Asked Questions
How many Type 45 destroyers does the Royal Navy have?
The Royal Navy has six Type 45 destroyers: Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon, Defender and Duncan. They were commissioned between 2009 and 2013, after earlier plans for 12 ships were cut.
How much does a Type 45 destroyer cost?
A Type 45 destroyer costs roughly £1 billion per ship, and the six-ship programme cost about £6.46 billion. Those are commonly cited, hedged figures.
What missiles does the Type 45 destroyer carry?
The Type 45 carries Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles in 48 Sylver A50 cells as part of the Sea Viper system. It also has a 114 mm gun, two Phalanx CIWS and room for Harpoon missiles.
Has the Type 45 destroyer been used in combat?
Yes, HMS Diamond fired Sea Viper missiles to shoot down Houthi drones and anti-ship missiles in the Red Sea from December 2023 into 2024. HMS Duncan and Dragon were also deployed there.
Why was the Type 45 destroyer unreliable?
The Type 45 had early reliability problems with its WR-21 gas turbines in warm waters. A Power Improvement Project added three new diesel generators per ship to fix the issue.
Type 45 vs Arleigh Burke: which is better?
The Type 45 is a dedicated air-defence ship with Aster missiles and the SAMPSON radar, while the Arleigh Burke is a multi-role ship with Aegis and Mk 41 cells. The Arleigh Burke carries more missiles.
