February 1, 200620 yr From Jane's RN launches first Type 45 destroyer By Katy Glassborow, JNI Reporter The first-of-class of the UK Royal Navy’s (RN’s) Type 45 anti-air warfare (AAW) destroyers, HMS Daring, was launched today at the BAE Systems shipyard at Scotstoun on the Clyde, Scotland. When the eight planned destroyers begin to enter service in 2009, they will provide the RN with an advanced AAW capability, particularly pertinent as the service is phasing out its FA.2 Sea Harriers this year. As such, the Type 45’s will provide a much needed air-defence capability against missiles and enemy aircraft, using such technology as the Sampson radar. Slippage of the original in-service date of 2000 has meant the service lives of the RN’s ageing Type 42 destroyers had to be extended. The vessels are being built by BAE Systems and Vosper Thornycroft, with second-of-class HMS Dauntless scheduled to be launched in 2007.
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