RN plans Type 45 ballistic missile defence, eyes future counter-hypersonic capability
Type 45 Destroyer HMS Diamond being loaded with Sea Viper missiles at HMNB Portsmouth. (Photo: MoD/ Crown Copyright)
The UK RN will upgrade its Type 45 destroyers to provide a ballistic missile defence capability while detailing plans for the ship's replacements to feature counter-hypersonic equipment.
Upgrades to the Sea Viper missile system aboard Daring-class Type 45 destroyers will protect the RN and wider defence community from ballistic missile threats by the late 2020s, under a newly confirmed UK plan.
A ballistic missile defence (BMD) capability will be delivered through the Sea Viper Evolution (SVE) project.
The government confirmed the plans in a written response to a UK Parliament Defence Committee report on the state of the RN.
Funding for SVE Capability 1, which would see the upgrade of missiles to the Aster Block 1 standard, was mentioned in the March 2021 Integrated Review.
An assessment phase for SVE
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