UK orders Mk 45 Mod 4 guns for Type 26 frigates

The United Kingdom has placed its first production order for Mk 45 Mod 4 naval guns for its future Type 26 frigates. Source: US Navy

By: Wording OD.

BAE Systems has received a GBP183 million (USD240.3 million) contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply the Maritime Indirect Fires System (MIFS) for the Royal Navy's (RN's) Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme.

Under the contract announced on 28 July the company will manufacture three MIFS Integrated Gunnery Systems (IGS) and one trainer system. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2020.

The MIFS IGS includes the Mk 45 Mod 4 5-inch/62-calibre Naval Gun System, together with an automated ammunition handling system, a gun fire control system, and qualified ammunition. The contract includes an option for five additional systems for the remainder of the planned eight-ship Type 26 programme.

BAE Systems was confirmed as preferred bidder for MIFS in 2015 after a competition with Babcock, which had partnered with Oto Melara (now Leonardo Defence Systems) to offer the latter's 127/64 LW gun medium-calibre gun system.

The Mk 45 Mod 4 guns being delivered under the MIFS programme will be reconditioned and upgraded Mk 45 Mod 2 mountings incorporating new-build ordnance elements. Work on the MIFS contract will be performed at BAE Systems' facilities at Louisville (manufacture), and Minneapolis (ammunition handling system engineering design and Mk 45 installation, commissioning, and system integration) in the United States, and at Barrow-in-Furness (safety case), Frimley (gunfire control system design and manufacture), and Glascoed (ammunition test and qualification) in the United Kingdom.

Source: Jane's Defence.