UK Ministry of Defence,
Defence Minister Baroness Taylor today announced a £35 million major upgrade to the Royal Navy frigate HMS Sutherland. New equipment valued at £18 million will be installed as part of a general overhaul of the ship under a £17 million contract with Babock Marine at their Rosyth dockyard in Scotland.
The Type 23 frigate is to get:
– the Navy's latest and most sophisticated submarine hunting sonar system, capable of identifying submarines at an even greater range;
– an advanced Seawolf air defence missile system, which will counter the advanced threat from missiles and fixed wing aircraft;
– a new improved main gun, capable of firing long-range ammunition;
– a reshaped stern to cut fuel use.
Baroness Taylor, Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, said:
“HMS Sutherland is the first of our ships to get this new equipment making her the most powerful frigate in the fleet. With an improved air defence missile system, a new long-range main gun, and our latest and most sophisticated submarine-hunting sonar, she will be a force to be reckoned with, capable of dealing with current and future threats.
Background Information
1. The new equipment to be fitted to the ship is supplied under separate MoD contracts:
a. The £300M Seawolf Missile defence system upgrade is run by BAE Systems Insyte, with equipment for the ship manufactured at their Portsmouth and Chelmsford sites. The Seawolf system greatly enhances the Type 23's anti-aircraft capabilities.
b. The £166M submarine Sonar 2087 project is run by Thales UK and will be manufactured at numerous sites and integrated together at the Thales Cheadle Heath site near Manchester. Sonar 2087 marks a significant step-change in anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
c. The upgrade to the 4.5in main gun is by DML in Devonport and will be installed by Babock Marine in Rosyth.
2. The total value of the new equipment to be fitted to the ship is about £18M and the contract with Babcock Marine for the overhaul of the ship and the installation of new equipment is £17M.
3. HMS Sutherland came into service into 1997. She has seen service all over the world from the frozen seas of both the Artic and the South Atlantic to the tropical heat of the Caribbean and the Far East.
4. There are three Royal Navy ships in refit at Babcock Marine Rosyth, exclusive of HMS Sutherland.
