Babcock is to set the first Phalanx 1B Close-In Weapons System
(CIWS) to work on a Type 45 destroyer this month, following a
first-of-class installation in HMS Daring.
Babcock undertakes equipment procurement from the US original
equipment manufacturer (OEM) Raytheon, and will supervise the
installation in HMS Daring at Portsmouth Naval Base. Once the
installation of the two systems is complete Babcock engineers will
then commission the systems, culminating in Naval Weapon Sea Trial
(NWST) including a towed target firing.
The installation of Phalanx 1B in HMS Daring represents the 5th
and 6th fit of the 1B system. Under a contract held by Babcock as
prime contractor to upgrade 16 Phalanx systems to the 1B system
capability on Royal Navy vessels, the company has previously been
responsible for two installations of the upgraded systems on Type
42 destroyer HMS York and on fleet replenishment ship RFA Fort
Victoria.
Phalanx is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and 20mm
Gatling gun system. The Phalanx Block 1B upgrade incorporates a
side mounted Forward Looking Infra-Red Camera (FLIR) enabling the
CIWS to defend the ship against surface targets and slow air
targets in addition to anti-ship missiles.
The Phalanx system will add further armament to the Type 45,
which has a comprehensive suite of weapons and equipment including
the sophisticated Principal Anti Air Missile System (PAAMS) and the
4.5 inch Mark 8 Mod 1 gun system, and is equipped with the Surface
Ship Torpedo Defence System.
Commenting on the first installation on a Type 45 destroyer, the
largest and most powerful air defence destroyers ever operated by
the Royal Navy, Babcock operations manager Martin Laity said: "A
first-of-class fit always involves some challenges, including an
unproven ship fit, and working with many installation contractors
and ship's services within extremely challenging completion
schedules. This can involve sailing with the ship to complete the
set to work process."
The installation in HMS Daring will take eight weeks, including
two weeks to install followed by six weeks of testing.
In addition to providing the 1B upgrade installations, Babcock
has a ten year support contract for the 36 Phalanx systems, based
on providing availability of the systems throughout their life on
board ship. Babcock manages and executes upkeep support activities
including safety case management, and provides a 24/7 helpdesk to
the Royal Navy, supplying a point of contact for front-line
maintainers and operators to resolve any technical issues arising.
The company also takes responsibility for logistics support for
spares and repairable units.