Posted on 09/01/2017 11:04:41 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Perseus, an earlier concept missile
Royal Navy ships will lose anti-ship missile capability in 2018 when the Harpoon missile is withdrawn with a replacement not due until ‘around 2030’.
We reported today, incorrectly, that the new frigates would more than likely have anti-ship weapons ordered to fill this gap before they enter service. We were mistaken and have since amended earlier articles to reflect what is written in this article.
While the Royal Navy will still have an anti-ship capability via the submarine fleet and embarked helicopters, this will still be a significant capability gap and even then, no Royal Navy helicopters will have anti-ship missile capabilities until 2020.
As we reported last year, Harriett Baldwin and her French counterpart signed an agreement to explore future long range weapons for the Royal and French Navies and Air Forces with the aim of replacing the Harpoon anti-ship missile and the Storm Shadow cruise missile as well as an array of French weapon types.
French arms procurement chief Collet-Billon said last year at the meeting:
“We are launching today a major new phase in our bilateral cooperation, by planning together a generation of missiles, successor to the Harpoon, SCALP and Storm Shadow.
The FC/ASW (future cruise/anti-ship weapon) programme’s aim is to have by around 2030 a new generation of missiles.”
The missiles however will not be ready to replace Harpoon until 2030, leaving the Type 26 Frigates without any real means to engage surface warships aside from their helicopters.
The Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon programme will look at options to replace and improve existing Naval and Air Force weapons systems in the next decade. Lasting up to three years, the assessment phase will help to define the missile designs and reduce risks to inform decisions about the next stage of the programme.
Harriett Baldwin had indicated earlier in the year that options for replacing the Harpoon anti-ship missile are ‘being considered’.
“The Harpoon system currently carried by the Royal Navy will reach its out of service date in 2018.
As part of a process of continuously reviewing the capabilities required to deliver their tasking, the Royal Navy is working alongside other areas of the Ministry of Defence to consider options for a Harpoon replacement.”
According to the Telegraph, Rear-Admiral Chris Parry said about the issue:
“It’s a significant capability gap and the Government is being irresponsible. It just shows that our warships are for the shop window and not for fighting.”
Former First Sea Lord, Lord West of Spithead said:
“This is just another example of where the lack of money is squeezing and making the nation less safe.We will have this gap of several years without missiles. Well, that’s fine if you don’t have to fight anybody in the meantime.”
Additionally, with Sea Skua now retired, Royal Navy helicopters will have no anti-ship missiles until the Sea Venom and Martlet missiles enter service in 2020.
Wildcat will receive the heavy anti-ship missile Sea Venom and the smaller Martlet to be used against small boats.
Martlet, formerly FASGW (Light), was due to enter service around 2015 on the Fleet Air Arm’s new Lynx Wildcat maritime helicopters, it still hasn’t. However the Ministry of Defence has placed an initial order for 1,000 missiles.
Sea Venom, formerly FASGW (Heavy), is a bigger anti-ship missile designed for larger targets.
In 2014, the Royal Navy awarded Thales Group a £48 million contract to deliver Martlet and later that year a contract was awarded to MBDA for the Sea Venom missile for use against vessels and land targets, replacing the Sea Skua.
Both missiles are to be integrated by Leonardo (then AugustaWestland) in a single £90m programme by 2018, with initial operating capability for both planned for October 2020.
Wildcat is, according to the manufacturer, able to operate up to 20 Martlet missiles or 4 Sea Venom missiles to disable or destroy vessels up to 1000 tonnes.
As for Merlin, the helicopter has two hardpoints to carry four Sting Ray torpedoes or depth charges. Some customers of the aircraft have chosen to deploy anti-ship missiles. Indeed in 2011, the Royal Navy was considering equipping their Merlin fleet with an anti-surface missile. This was reportedly dropped due to cost.
Outside of the USN, NATO basically has no navy now.
Nice of the British to supply decoys for other nations until 2030. Just what those nations need, target practice.
This is ridiculous. There are plenty of off the shelf anti-ship missiles available to replace Harpoon. The Brits rather spend their money on welfare leeching Muslims than defending their country.
Not to worry. The US Navy will protect them all while they spend their money on social services.
China has export models of frigates. I’m sure they can get them much cheaper than home built and in half the time.
If they just need missiles, they could order some from a half dozen nations. Sweden has a nifty model. Hell even Iran builds their own. I’m sure good deals are to be had if they shop around.
Old news from last year.
Not so fast - the US navy has to stop being run over by freighters and testing to see how shallow deep draft vessels can really go.
That's OK - her carriers don't have any aircraft.
(And the French snicker....)
The British Navy can always make for the lack of missles by shouting insults and farting in the enemies general direction.
What happens, it self-destructs? Leave the damn things in place until the replacement is proven and in production.
The Royal Navy is a pathetic shadow of its former glory.
Just like today’s British men are a pathetic shadow of the men who fought WW2.
Funny that you should mention that. Here's the current First Lord of the British Admiralty.
But by 2020 they will all have new sails and coppered bottoms.....
Critical path midgets
USS Antietam aground, USS Fitzgerald & McCain rammed:
How did Beatty say it?
We shouldn’t worry with all the money the Navy is pouring into its F-35 program. It is rumored that soon the F-35 will even have software that allows it to fire its cannon with the 1,000 rounds; the short range BVR missiles it carries will insure close combat kills against missiles with twice the range; naval pilots are relieved to know that they (in the near future) will not have to fear being killed on launch.
Soon, US Navy will reach parity with the UK Navy.
Remember the Sheffield...
1982: Argentines destroy HMS Sheffield
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/4/newsid_2504000/2504155.stm
You left space doc without photon torpedoes?
British frigate fleet to lack anti-ship missiles until ‘around 2030’
Wow, just wow. No airplanes on carrier and no anti ship missiles.
They should paint a bulls-eye on their ships.
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