Game-Changer Achieved: £245 Million Secured for Cutting-Edge Type 26 Naval Gun System
BAE Systems has secured a contract valued at $245 million from the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to provide the artillery system, referred to as the Maritime Indirect Fires System (MIFS), specifically designed for the Type 26 Global Combat Ship.
This agreement follows the MOD’s announcement of BAE Systems as the preferred bidder in the previous year, following a competitive assessment.
Under the terms of the contract, the company will manufacture three MIFS Integrated Gunnery Systems (IGS) and one training system for the UK Royal Navy. The MIFS IGS incorporates the 5-inch, 62-caliber Mk 45 Mod 4 Naval Gun System, complemented by an automated ammunition handling system, fire control system, and certified ammunition. The contract also includes an option for five additional systems for the remainder of the UK Royal Navy’s Type 26 fleet.
The UK Minister for Defence Procurement, Harriett Baldwin MP, remarked: “Our increasing defence budget enables us to invest in a cutting-edge weapon system for the Royal Navy’s forthcoming Global Combat Ship, ensuring value for taxpayers. This contract not only preserves highly skilled jobs across the country but also emphasizes our commitment and showcases the ongoing advancements in the program.”
Joe Senftle, Vice President and General Manager of Weapon Systems at BAE Systems, stated: “Our teams in the US and UK will contribute unmatched skills and expertise to the development and production of MIFS. The world-class Mk 45 will provide the Royal Navy with a tested, reliable, and highly effective system, ready to utilize a broad spectrum of modern ammunition, as well as future direct-fire munitions currently being developed.”
The Mk 45 is currently utilized by the US Navy and ten other allied nations. Over 240 Mk 45 guns have been deployed in service globally.
Work on the contract for the UK Type 26 vessels will occur at BAE Systems’ facilities in Louisville, Kentucky, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, as well as in Barrow-in-Furness, Frimley, and Glascoed in the UK, with deliveries expected to commence from 2020.
The UK Government pledged to acquire eight advanced Type 26 Global Combat Ships during its 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which will eventually replace the anti-submarine Type 23 frigates. The Type 26 is engineered for global deployment and capable of executing a wide range of missions, from high-intensity conflicts to humanitarian assistance, whether operating independently or as part of a task force. The vessel features an acoustically quiet hull and design flexibility to allow for upgrades as emerging technologies develop, ensuring it meets future operational requirements.
