[miliantnutcase]

After years of such funding cuts for the British Navy I don’t see them building another one of these things. Looks like at that cost there might be a Seawolf type thing happening with it.

[Jeff Head]

Well, they already have two in the water...launched...and a third slated for launching later this year. The fourth is well under construction and the fifth will start later this year.

Unfortunately, they are trying to make up for the budget issues (which are rediculous IMHO and represent your typical liberal/socilaist mentality cutting funding for essential defense), by short changing the weapons and sensor fit on the first vessels. There will be no anti-surface capability at all outside of the 114mm gun, and they are not going to install the major sonar systems, relying on the single embarked helo as I understand it.

DARING TYPE 45 DDG

This will severelly limit their operational capability in any multi-role/threat environment until those systems (which the vessel is designed for) are fully installed and operational.

[Stoat]

After years of such funding cuts for the British Navy I don’t see them building another one of these things. Looks like at that cost there might be a Seawolf type thing happening with it.

In addition to the multiple vessels in the pipeline as mentioned here, there is also this item which may be of interest:

Great Britain Brown £20bn nuke pledge (Promises massive new nuke arsenal, upgrade)

Although a politician's promise and a ship in the water are two entirely different things, it does appear that our British Friends are taking defense issues and the war on terror quite seriously, which is a great comfort.  If only we could get the Democrats to become as serious about National Defense as the British Socialists appear to be.....