Defense Equipment & Support (DE&S) has awarded a €157 million contract to Systems, Engineering and Assessment Ltd (SEA) to equip Royal Navy ships with improved decoys. The aim is to provide better and faster protection against enemy threats, including modern anti-ship missiles. The Type 26 and Type 31 frigates and Type 45 destroyers will be equipped with a maneuverable countermeasure launch system.
The system is considered an advancement in decoy launcher technology compared to traditional fixed solutions, as the system’s mobility eliminates the need to maneuver the ship to enable a precise and timely response to anti-ship missile threats. The system has an open architecture, making it easy to upgrade and integrate future countermeasures. The contract was awarded to SEA by the Maritime Combat Systems team at DE&S and covers the design, manufacture and integration of the launcher systems. Rebecca Fullerton, EWCM project manager at DE&S, said: “This contract will enable improved effectiveness against new anti-ship missile threats and will link with the MEWSIC program to ultimately deliver an advanced detection and response capability to protect the current RN destroyers and the new T26 and T31 frigates.”
The order was placed as part of the Maritime Electronic Warfare Program (MEWP). The new systems are intended to replace the Decoy Launcher (DLH) currently in operation. However, the Decoy Launcher will be integrated into the command and control system being delivered as part of the MEWSIC project, thus expanding the counter-threat capabilities of upgraded ships. A total of 38 launchers will be installed on 19 vessels, with additional systems also being procured to support integration, testing and training activities ashore. “The knowledge and maritime expertise of our UK team has enabled our long-standing partnership with the Royal Navy and we are delighted to be able to support the UK’s defense capability against modern and complex naval threats,” said Richard Flitton, Managing Director of SEA.
