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Why is the Type 45 destroyer known as the world's most powerful air defense ship?
The Type 45 destroyer, also known as the D-class or Daring-class, is a class of six guided missile destroyers built for the British Royal Navy in the early 21st century. The class is designed primarily for air and missile defence and is built around the PAAMS (Sea Falcon) air defence system, coupled with the SAMPSON active electronically scanned array (AESA) and S1850M long range radar. Over time, the performance of these destroyers has earned them a reputation that has led many experts to haile them as the most powerful air defense ships operating today.
Admiral Sir Alan West once said that the Type 45 will be the most powerful destroyer in the Royal Navy and the best air defense ship in the world.
The Type 45 destroyer was originally designed to replace the Type 42 (Sheffield class) destroyers that served in the Falklands War. According to the National Audit Office report, a single Type 45 can simultaneously track, attack and destroy more targets in a "high-intensity attack" than five Type 42s operating simultaneously. Such performance demonstrates the Type 45's powerful ability in multi-target defense.
Excellent air defense capabilitiesThe Type 45 destroyer is equipped with the Sea Falcon (PAAMS) air defense system, which is its most important air defense weapon. This system can track more than 2,000 targets. SAMPSON radar can provide real-time data on multiple targets at the most critical moment, coordinating multiple missiles to counter air threats. This capability makes the Type 45 more resistant to high-performance aerial attacks.
The Sea Falcon system is described as an "unkillable" air defense missile with "multiple fire capabilities" to deal with saturation attacks.
The ships conduct combined air defence operations using Aster missiles, with the Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles enabling the Type 45 to effectively intercept targets in flight at varying distances. In fact, the Type 45s are also used to detect ballistic missile potential, which means they are not just ships for defending against aerial threats.
Challenges during construction
Although the design and technology of the Type 45 led the development of the modern navy, there were also challenges during its construction. The reduction of the original order from 12 to the final six caused considerable controversy. Even so, these ships are recognized as the largest frigates in the British Navy and are constructed to Lloyd's Register specifications for naval vessels.
However, the Type 45's propulsion system encountered problems, with certain design flaws resulting in insufficient power supply in hot environments. As the problems came to light, the Ministry of Defence pledged to make sweeping improvements to ensure the destroyers could operate at full capacity.
Continuous technology upgrades
In the near future, the upgrade plan for the Type 45 destroyer includes an enhanced anti-air weapon system, especially improving the missile capability to the level capable of intercepting hypersonic missiles. Future ships will include upgraded Aster 30 Block 1 missiles, and the Type 45's combat capabilities will continue to increase with the application of new technologies.
Overall, BAE Systems claims that the Type 45 is recognized as the most advanced anti-aircraft warship in the world.
The Type 45 destroyer not only demonstrates superiority in air defense capabilities, but also introduces different ideas in its design and construction, such as taking into account gender-neutral living spaces to accommodate the needs of male and female naval personnel. This is not common among other naval vessels.
So in the face of increasingly complex global security challenges in the future, can the Type 45 destroyer continue to maintain its leading position in maritime air defense and even lead the development of future ships?
