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.
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Italy orders two ships as work begins on others along with deliveries and updates]()
Italy orders two ships as work begins on others along with deliveries and updates
The Italian Navy is being refreshed with two new ships ordered, while in the past six months steel was cut for a new frigate, an enhanced frigate was delivered and Horizon-class frigates passed a design review.
-
![Singapore declassifies SEAL Carrier swimmer delivery vehicle for special forces use]()
Singapore declassifies SEAL Carrier swimmer delivery vehicle for special forces use
Singapore’s navy has introduced the Combatant Craft Underwater vessel, a multi-mode swimmer delivery vehicle designed to enhance its Naval Diving Unit’s ability to conduct covert maritime special operations.
-
![US Navy foresees additional delays in the Columbia-class programme]()
US Navy foresees additional delays in the Columbia-class programme
After estimating that the first Columbia-class submarine would be delivered 16 months late, the US Navy has recently confirmed that an additional month will be required to complete its construction.
-
![UK demonstration shows how sensors and C2 can protect ports from multi-domain threats]()
UK demonstration shows how sensors and C2 can protect ports from multi-domain threats
Naval vessels are at high risk when in harbour, port or dockside and the threat from asymmetric attacks has been shown in the Ukraine war against Russian ships. A demonstration of combined systems in the UK hoped to show a potential solution to defence, government and commercial delegates.
-
![Final US Navy Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship concludes acceptance testing]()
Final US Navy Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship concludes acceptance testing
After troubled progress with the Littoral Combat Ship programme, the US Navy plans to commission USS Pierre (LCS 38) this autumn.
