RN sticks with Mk 8 gun support partners
The Mk 8 medium-calibre gun arms UK RN Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers. (Photo: MoD/Crown Copyright)
Babcock and BAE Systems carry on support for 4.5-inch guns arming Type 23 and Type 45 vessels.
Babcock International and BAE Systems will continue in-service support for the 4.5-inch Mk 8 medium-calibre guns used by the UK RN on its Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers.
Under a new five-year contract extension from the MoD, worth about £43 million ($59 million), the two companies will support the semi-automatic guns on 19 vessels as well as the shore establishment HMS Collingwood.
The current five-year support deal (worth £41 million) expires this year.
Babcock stated on 9 April that its continued collaboration with MCG designer BAE Systems ‘offers the capacity, proven capabilities and infrastructure to safely and effectively run in-service support’.
Babcock added that it is using digital twinning to improve the reliability and extend the service life of the Mk 8 gun.
This approach ‘provides the on-board maintainer with the information they need to optimise maintenance and provides Babcock the foresight needed to predict future faults and proactively intervene to keep the asset operational and increase availability’, the company noted.
This article was updated on 12 April with a new image of the Mk8 gun.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![NATO tests use of “undetectable, jam-proof” laser communication in maritime scenarios]()
NATO tests use of “undetectable, jam-proof” laser communication in maritime scenarios
As part of its effort to better prepare its capabilities for operations in contested and congested scenarios, NATO evaluated a Lithuanian ship-to-ship terminal designed to not be susceptible to enemy interference.
-
![Future of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project is still unclear]()
Future of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project is still unclear
The Canadian government remains tight-lipped on the timeline and funding required for the next steps of its Canadian Submarine Patrol Project, which should offer improved capabilities for the country’s navy.
-
![Mitsubishi eyes future with Australia’s Mogami selection]()
Mitsubishi eyes future with Australia’s Mogami selection
With Australia’s selection of the Mogami-class for Project Sea 3000, Mitsubishi is investigating local production in the next decade as potential export opportunities emerge.
-
![Thales’ new Sonar 76Nano could equip UK Royal Navy on anti-submarine warfare missions]()
Thales’ new Sonar 76Nano could equip UK Royal Navy on anti-submarine warfare missions
The new sonar is designed to equip uncrewed underwater vessels, with the potential to be used by the Royal Navy for its Atlantic Bastion and Atlantic Net missions.
