Royal Navy to equip vessels for $170.5 million with decoy launcher Ancilia
Royal Navy frigates Type 26 and 31, as well as Type 45 destroyers, will be fitted with the trainable decoy launcher Ancilia. (Photo: SEA)
The protection system would be fitted to a range of Royal Navy surface ships, including Type 26 and 31 frigates, and Type 45 destroyers.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a £135 million (US$170.5 million) contract to purchase the trainable decoy launcher Ancilia for the Royal Navy. The purchase will attempt to increase surface ship defensive capabilities and protect Royal Navy vessels against modern anti-ship threats, such as those recently coming from the Houthis in the Red Sea, as stated by the MoD.
Ancilia, first officially launched in September, is a trainable decoy launcher that, according to its manufacturers, allows quick reactions to incoming threats without needing to manoeuvre the vessel itself. The launcher can also configure the firing of multiple decoy types such as chaff, flares and ‘corner reflector’ rounds in varying positions.
Two subsidiaries of the UK-based technology company Cohort plc will manufacture the flexible countermeasure system in partnership. SEA has supplied the Royal Navy with torpedo launchers and countermeasure capabilities in the past, while Chess Dynamics has designed and developed the trainable base for Ancilia.
The contract was selected by the MoD to provide Electronic Warfare Countermeasures Increment 1a (EWCM 1a) as part of the Maritime Electronic Warfare Programme (MEWP). The 20-year programme has been aimed at updating surface ship electronic surveillance, countermeasures, and electronic warfare command and control capabilities.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![SOF Week 2026: US NSW explores 3D-printed USVs for forward-deployed operations]()
SOF Week 2026: US NSW explores 3D-printed USVs for forward-deployed operations
US Naval Special Warfare Command is assessing the feasibility of rapidly producing expendable mid-sized USVs in theatre to support SOF and maritime security missions.
-
![SOF Week 2026: MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system]()
SOF Week 2026: MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system
MARSOC is procuring the Shark Marine Dive Tablet 2 to address a longstanding combat diver navigation capability gap, improving underwater positioning, situational awareness and integration with existing diver propulsion vehicles.
-
![SOF Week 2026: NSW expands commercial UxS push to maritime platforms as USASOC advances FPV drone effort]()
SOF Week 2026: NSW expands commercial UxS push to maritime platforms as USASOC advances FPV drone effort
The US Army Special Operations Command and Naval Special Warfare are accelerating efforts to integrate commercial uncrewed systems, with NSW broadening its solicitation to include USVs and UUVs alongside new requirements for ISR, kinetic operations and swarm technologies.
-
![SOF Week 2026: US Navy USV completes record eight-day autonomous mission]()
SOF Week 2026: US Navy USV completes record eight-day autonomous mission
The MARTAC T38 Devil Ray USV has set a new endurance benchmark as the US Navy pushes deeper into autonomous maritime warfare.
