Today, the most versatile and widespread class of warships are destroyers. They are used to protect aircraft carriers from air attacks, cover landing ships, and destroy submarines. To date, the United States of America has the largest fleet of destroyers, and given the pace of construction of ships of this type in other countries, the US leadership will continue for a long time to come. At the heart of their naval forces are Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. What is the secret of the success of these vessels, and who are their main competitors?
Arleigh Burke destroyers belong to the fourth-generation guided missile destroyers and are rightfully considered the best in the world, and in some respects they surpass all existing ships. A modern American destroyer can simultaneously detect significant amount goals, as well as take them for escort. At the same time, there are no impossible tasks for the destroyer.
Main combat missions destroyers"Arleigh Burke", include: the protection of naval strike and aircraft carrier groups from massive missile attacks; air defense (of convoys, naval formations or individual ships) from enemy aircraft; fight against submarines and surface ships. In addition, they can be involved in providing a naval blockade, artillery support for landing operations, tracking enemy ships, and also to participate in search and rescue operations.
The development of the Arleigh Burke destroyers began in the late 1970s. The main requirement that the military presented to the new ship was versatility. The main task of the destroyers is to escort aircraft carriers and the new ship had to easily cope with any targets: torpedoes, missiles, coastal installations. The detection and fire control systems had only seconds to decide on the use of weapons.
The destroyer Arleigh Burke demonstrates new shipbuilding approaches. One of the most impressive changes was the reshaping of the hull. Traditionally, destroyers were narrow and long. Constructors this ship this problem was solved in a different way. The Arleigh Burke's ship architecture retained one unique value - the ratio of length and width, which means an increase in stability. As experience shows, new design has a number of advantages. With waves up to 7 meters high, the Arleigh Burke is able to maintain a speed of up to 25 knots.
In addition to the unique shape of the hull, American destroyers received other changes in ship architecture. For example, the structure again became steel. The fact is that during the Second World War, destroyers were made of steel, and by the 1970s, steel replaced aluminum. The change in material was due to the heavier radars and other sensors placed on the masts. Aluminum is an excellent alternative to steel, but it has certain disadvantages, including vulnerability to fire. The designers of the destroyer "Arleigh Burke" decided to return to steel, but at the same time retained many of the modern electronic systems. Vital areas of ships of this class are additionally protected by 25 mm armor plates and covered with Kevlar.
The design of the Arleigh Burke destroyer is more compact than its predecessors. Their superstructures are less hectic, more calm than those of previous designs.
Initially, the ships were designed to protect American aircraft carrier groups from missile strikes (primarily from ship missile strikes) that the Soviet Navy could inflict. That is, these are missiles that were based on air platforms, missiles of surface ships and missiles launched from submarines.
Almost invulnerable squadron destroyer Arleigh Burke makes combat information and control system (CICS) Idzhes. The unique information and control combat system of the Arleigh Burke destroyer can simultaneously conduct anti-aircraft, anti-submarine and anti-ship defense. The main element of the CICS is the most powerful radar station, which is capable of automatically detecting, tracking and tracking several hundred targets at the same time. Its main feature is that it collects information not only from the main antennas mounted on the ship's turrets, but also from the sonar scanning the underwater space and quickly detects enemy submarines.
This system is capable of detecting aerospace targets at a range of 380 thousand meters, air and sea targets at a distance of 190 thousand meters. Up to 1000 targets can be tracked simultaneously with guidance of eighteen missiles for various purposes.
Arleigh Burke ships are equipped with weapons that have no analogues in the world. This includes the Mark 41 vertical launch facility, which consists of 100 compartments that store missiles. However, the main feature of this installation is not the number of missiles, but the ability to combine them. For example, anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, cruise missiles or torpedoes can be placed at the same time, which makes it possible to prepare the ship to repel any danger. Ammunition can be combined depending on the task. If on Soviet ships for each type of missiles had their own separate launchers, then the Arleigh Burke provided for them one system. This technical solution made it possible to minimize the amount of "dead" cargo, that is, installations that will not be used for a specific mission.
The armament of the Arleigh Burke destroyers of various sub-series (Series I, IΙ and IΙA) is quite different. The main weapon of all operating ships of this type are 2 Mark 41 VLS vertical launchers. Armament kit for UVP destroyers of series I and IΙ:
74 anti-aircraft missiles RIM-66 SM-2,
8 anti-submarine missiles RUM-139 VL-Asroc (multi-purpose version).
In addition, the ships could be equipped with 56 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles and 34 RUM-139 VL-Asroc and RIM-66 SM-2 strike missiles.
On destroyers of the IIA series, the number of missiles carried has increased to 96. The standard set of weapons for the UVP:
8 anti-submarine guided missiles RUM-139 VL-Asroc,
8 cruise missiles BGM-109 Tomahawk,
24 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles,
74 RIM-66 SM-2 missiles.
In 2008, an Ijes SM-3 missile launched from a US base in Alaska shot down an object in outer space. The target was a falling military satellite. The performance of this rocket is simply fantastic. The designers claim that the missile is capable of destroying a target at a distance of up to 500 km. This shot was fired from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Lake Eric. Today, almost all ships of this class have adopted this most powerful weapon. According to Russian experts, firing data was carried out to test the anti-missile system.
On board the destroyers of the Arleigh Burke class, in addition to launchers, a 127-mm artillery mount (ammunition load of 680 shells), 2 six-barreled 20-mm Phalanx anti-aircraft artillery mounts and 4 Browning machine guns of 12.7 mm caliber are installed. On board, in addition to deck weapons, 2 SH-60B Seahawk helicopters with sets of anti-submarine and anti-ship weapons can be placed, expanding the range of the destroyer. The use of helicopters makes it possible to detect and attack targets tens of kilometers away. This arsenal enables the ships not only to protect the squadron, but also to deliver high-precision strikes against the enemy. In other words, the Arleigh Burke is not just a tactical, but an operational-tactical weapon, that is, they are capable of hitting targets in the depths of the enemy.
Undoubtedly, Arleigh Burke is the best ship of this class, however, other maritime nations are constantly improving their destroyers. For example, in the UK there is a Type 45 destroyer. According to its creators, one Type 45 can replace, in terms of fire capabilities, an entire fleet of destroyers of the previous generation. Its latest weapons are capable of destroying an aircraft, helicopter, aerial bomb or UAV without any problems. The accuracy of the guidance system is so great that the cannon is capable of shooting down a flying tennis ball. These ships are equipped with a European fire detection and control system, developed quite recently.
The main armament of these destroyers is the PAAMS anti-aircraft missile launcher with Aster-30 and Aster-15 missiles. Also on the warship there are six Sylver systems serving for the vertical launch of eight Aster missiles by each installation. In addition, the destroyer has artillery weapons - one 114-mm installation, which serves to strike at coastal fortifications and two 30-mm guns for manpower.
The most powerful missiles in the arsenal of the Type 45 destroyer is Aster-30, but their maximum range is 120 thousand meters. These missiles can perform certain functions of missile defense, short-range missiles, interception and illumination. Of course, it is impossible to compare these weapons with those of Arleigh Burke. The British are losing on all counts.
Despite this, the Type 45 has its own unique features. This includes an integrated energy system. The ship has two gas and two diesel turbines. The liquid fuel engine supplies power to the electric motors that turn the propellers. Due to this, the maneuverability of the ship was increased and the consumption of diesel fuel was reduced. In addition, four turbines can replace an entire power plant.
Specifications "Arleigh Burke":
Displacement - 9.3 thousand tons;
Length - 155.3 m;
Width - 18 m;
Power plant - 4 gas turbines LM2500-30 "General Electric";
Maximum travel speed - 30 knots;
Cruising range at a speed of 20 knots - 4400 miles;
Crew - 276 sailors and officers;
Armament:
Vertical launch installations (missiles SM-3, RIM-66, RUM-139 "VL-Asroc", BGM-109 "Tomahawk");
Artillery 127-mm installation Mk-45;
Two automatic 25mm Phalanx CWIS mounts;
Four 12.7 mm Browning machine guns;
Two three-tube torpedo tubes Mk-46.
Technical characteristics of the Type 45 class destroyer:
Displacement - 7350 tons;
Length - 152.4 m;
Width - 18 m;
Cruising range - 7000 miles;
Speed - 27 knots;
Crew - 190 people;
Armament:
Anti-aircraft missile launchers "PAAMS";
Six "Sylver VLS" launchers;
Missiles "Aster-30" - 32 pcs. "Aster 15" - 16 pcs.;
Artillery 114-mm installation;
Two 30mm artillery mounts;
Four torpedo tubes.
Helicopter "EH101 Merlin" - 1.
This year, one of the modern warships of the world, the destroyer, made its first ocean voyage. HMS Daring» side number D32. owned by the Royal Navy of Great Britain, and opened a new class " Type 45”, which will consist of six destroyers worth £1 billion each. This class destroyers should replace the deprecated " Type 42”, which has been in service with the Royal Navy since 1978. By 2014, all should come into operation.
All surface ships will be built at the shipyard Scottish Shipyard» in Portsmouth. Construction destroyer« HMS Daring”, which means “courage” was started back in 2003. After launching in 2007 warship began sea trials in April 2008, which tested the performance of all radar systems and weapons. Destroyer will be put into operation in the summer of 2009.
Construction of the second destroyer« HMS Dauntless» tail number D33 was launched in August 2004, and in November 2008 he began sea trials and testing of all systems. To the Royal Navy warship will enter in 2010.
Destroyer« HMS Diamond" (D34) and " HMS Dragon» (D35) will be launched in 2011. Other destroyers " HMS Defender" (D36) and " HMS Duncan» (D37) are at the stage of development of design and technical documentation.
photos of the destroyer HMS Daring
construction of the destroyer HMS Daring
project 45 destroyer
Great Britain withdrew from the countries in need of building frigates and began building its own destroyers capable of operating at a distance of 7,000 miles from their bases with formidable weapons on board. The main task destroyers is the protection of a given area from possible missile strikes, as well as the detection of air and surface targets at long distances. In addition, providing combat security for aircraft carriers that are planned to be launched in 2015 "" and " Prince of Wales". At warships Type 45, it is possible to control aircraft and coordinate their actions as part of groups during air operations.
Aster vertical launch
destroyer HMS Dauntless
to main armament destroyer« HMS Daring» applies anti-aircraft missile launcher « PAAMS» with missiles « Aster-15" and " Aster-30» with a range of up to 80 kilometers. Also on the warship are six systems " Silver» for vertical launch of eight missiles « Aster» for each installation. In addition, it is equipped with artillery armament with one 114 mm caliber installation for striking coastal fortifications and two 30 mm guns against enemy manpower. The design of the ship provides for the installation of " Phalanx».
On board warship a system has been installed that will provide automatic warning of a torpedo attack, deploy decoys for reflection and give tactical advice on how to maneuver the ship.
Destroyer« HMS Daring"equipped with systems that allow you to track up to 1000 targets at the same time and are able to intercept cruise missiles, identifying them.
a helicopter of the Merlin type can be accommodated on board the warship
On board a warship, a Royal Navy helicopter of the type " Merlin”, which in turn will help to detect .
Destroyer« HMS Daring» is equipped with an integrated communication system "FICS", which is modern system communications, including video conferencing, satellite communication stations and digital radio stations of all ranges and intra-ship communication.
Destroyers of this class are equipped with two gas turbine engines. WR-21» companies « Rolls Royce» with an exhaust gas recirculation system to increase power. Each engine is capable of developing power up to 34,000 hp.
Tests warship, held on September 28, 2008, were successfully completed and showed an excellent result of the work of all systems and equipment.
Technical characteristics of the HMS Daring class destroyer:
Length - 152.4 m;
Width - 18 m;
Displacement - 7350 tons;
Speed - 27 knots;
Cruising range - 7000 miles;
Crew - 190 people;
Armament:
Anti-aircraft missile launchers "PAAMS";
Launchers "Sylver VLS" - 6;
Missiles "Aster 15" - 16 units, "Aster-30" - 32 units;
Artillery mount 114 mm - 1;
Artillery mount 30 mm - 2;
Torpedo tubes - 4;
Helicopter "EH101 Merlin" - 1;
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The most modern, sophisticatedly equipped destroyers of the British Navy belong to the Type 45 "Daring". In the 1990s, Great Britain, Italy and France began work on a new destroyer as part of the Horizon project. Disagreements over the management and division of the scope of work forced the UK to withdraw from the project in 1999 and start creating its own destroyer, the main weapon of which was the Aster missiles developed by the French side. The Royal Navy planned that 12 new Type 45 destroyers would replace the same number of older Type 42 destroyers in service since 1978. In 2008, when production had already begun, the number of ships was reduced to eight, and then to six. The lead ship Type 45 "Daring" was launched in 2006 and ready for sailing by 2009.
A distinctive feature of the Type 45 "Daring" destroyers is a very high forward mast structure, on which a BAE Systems 1045 radar installation is located in a spherical radome for visibility and fire control. A radar placed at this height has an increased range, especially against low-flying targets. On the lower rear tower is the Marconi / Signaal type 1046 radar for detecting air and surface targets. Type 45 destroyers are 20 meters longer and 2,600 tons heavier than the Type 42 destroyers they replaced: this is due to the placement of launch silos for Aster missiles and heavy radars. Type 45 destroyers are the largest and most powerful air defense destroyers built for the Royal Navy.
The Type 45 "Daring" destroyers were originally supposed to be equipped with 155 mm guns, but preference was given to the standard 114 mm BAE Systems Mark 8 guns on the "O" modification gun turret with a multifaceted surface to reduce the radar signature. The gun is located in the bow of the destroyer: the installation is made using the technology of reducing radar visibility and does not disturb the silhouette of the ship. The gun ensures the defeat of ground, surface and air targets at a distance of up to 22 km. The rate of fire is from 22 to 26 rounds per minute. The ammunition load includes high-explosive fragmentation, long-range (up to 27.5 km), barrage (spraying chaff) and lighting projectiles. Standard high-explosive fragmentation projectiles are used to destroy both ground/surface and air targets. Ammunition for the gun is 800 rounds. The issue of replacing the gun with more powerful samples is currently being considered.
For close air defense, the ship is equipped with two 30mm Oerlikon KCB guns in single-barreled DS-30B mounts (on the side) and two 20mm Mark 15 Phalanx CIWS autocannons (similarly). The installations effectively complement each other: the Oerlikon KCB, which has more firepower, ensures the destruction of both aircraft and light surface targets, and the Phalanx CIWS, which has a minimum reaction time and high accuracy, ensures the completion of missiles breaking through to the ship. The ship's auxiliary armament consists of two manually operated M134 Minigun 7.62 mm machine guns, designed for self-defense against saboteurs, exploding boats and close fire support. It is also possible to install up to six 7.62-mm FN MAG machine guns. Missile armament is the PAAMS anti-aircraft missile system. The PAAMS control system interface is Microsoft Windows 2000. PAAMS uses two sizes of Aster rockets (Aster 15 and Aster 30) with different ranges. The missiles are fired from a six-cell "Sylver" launcher located behind the main gun.
The integrated electric propulsion system is the first in the world to be used on a warship on the front lines. Two gas turbines generate the energy needed to run the ship's systems and propel it. Their capacity would be enough to provide electricity to a city with a population of 80,000 people.
Type 45 "Daring" destroyers can be used not only for air defense, but also as warships general purpose. Large flight deck suitable for CH-47 Chinook sized helicopters. Hangar facilities in the aft superstructure are designed for one heavy Merlin helicopter or two light Lynx helicopters. Helicopters are designed to organize anti-submarine defense of the formation, with the help of descending sonars, sonar buoys, depth charges and Stingray aircraft homing anti-submarine torpedoes. It is also possible to use helicopters for strike, in which they are equipped with Sea Skua light missiles.
The Type 45 "Daring" can take on board up to 60 marines, while the conditions for accommodating crew members are much better than on earlier British ships. Kubricks are designed for a maximum of five people, shared toilets and showers have been replaced by individual ones. All Type 45 "Daring" destroyers are equipped for use as flagships, have additional facilities and communications systems to accommodate an admiral and headquarters. Each ship also has reserves of space and supplies to permanently house a company of Royal Marines.
Budget constraints led to the elimination of certain systems and types of weapons on the Type 45 "Daring" destroyers, such as missiles to destroy surface ships. They may be added in the future. In addition, it is possible to install Tomahawk cruise missiles, 155-mm guns, an automated naval command and control system (CEC), as well as theater ballistic missiles. So, in 2013, it was decided to install on four Type 45 destroyers two quadruple launchers of Harpoon anti-ship missiles, taken from decommissioned Type 22 frigates.
All ships have space (in front of the main Sylver TLU complex) to accommodate 12 extended launchers: Sylver A70 or Mk. 41. These launchers cannot be connected to the PAAMS system - that is, they cannot be used to place anti-aircraft missiles - but they can carry models of cruise missiles launched against ground targets. As such, the Tomahawk in service with the British Navy (for the Mk. 41) or the SCALP Naval tactical cruise missile based on the Storm Shadow aviation cruise missile is considered. Equipping with such launchers will make it possible to give Type 45 ships the ability to hit ground targets.
Specifications destroyers Type 45 "Daring"
Displacement 7500 tons (standard), 8100 tons (full)
Length 152.2 m
Width 21.4 m
Draft 7.4 m
Engines
2 x gas turbine Rolls-Royce WR-21,
2 x diesel generator Wärtsilä V12 VASA32,
2 x Converteam electric motor
Power
2 x 28 800,
2 x 2700,
2 x 27,000 l. With.
Propeller 2 adjustable pitch propellers
Travel speed 29 knots (gross)
Cruising range 7,000 miles at 18 knots
Endurance of navigation 45 days
Crew 190 people (rooms for 235 people)
Navigation weapons multifunctional radar Sampson
Radar armament S1850 air and surface early warning radar
Artillery 1 x 114mm Mark 8 Mod.1
Flak
2 x 20mm Mark 15 Phalanx CIWS,
2 x 30 mm ZAU Oerlikon KCB
Missile weapons SAM PAAMS (UVP Sylver: 48 SAM "Aster-15" or "Aster-30")
Anti-submarine weapons sonar MFS-7000
Mine-torpedo armament anti-torpedo protection system
Aviation group hangar, 1 helicopter Lynx HMA8 or Merlin HM1
The legendary British pirate Sir Francis Drake argued that the best emblem for a warship is an enemy corpse nailed to the stem. The bow of the new British ship HMS Dragon is decorated with a no less symbolic sign - a red Welsh dragon. National coat of arms of Wales. The symbol of the inviolability and security of the protected object. A vigilant guard, day and night guarding the treasures entrusted to him.
Medieval mysticism is surprisingly intertwined with modern technologies. The "all-seeing magic crystal" acquired the features of a three-coordinate radar with an active phased array, capable of seeing an albatross at a distance of 100 km. And the "arrows of Robin Hood", flying through seven centuries, turned into 48 anti-aircraft missiles of the Aster family, hitting 120 kilometers without a miss.
HMS Dragon is the fourth ship in a series of six Royal Navy destroyers belonging to the Daring class (Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon, Defender, Duncan). Specialized air defense destroyers, "sharpened" to ensure the protection of ship formations from any means of air attack in the coastal zone, in open sea areas and in the expanses of the oceans.
Dragon breath
The roots of the destroyers "Daring" (the designation "type 45" or "type D" is also found) go back to the 1990s, when European countries decided to create their own new-generation warship, in no way inferior to the American destroyers of the Orly Burke type URO. The result of the joint Anglo-French-Italian program CNGF (common new generation frigate) was the appearance of overgrown frigates of the Horizon type (adopted by the Italian and French navies), as well as their more advanced version - the British air defense destroyers of the Daring type.
The idea was definitely a success: thanks to their perfect design and ultra-modern “stuffing”, the Darings and Horizons surpassed the American Aegis destroyers in a number of important characteristics. The Daring looks especially impressive: even the latest modifications of the American Burks politely part at the sight of the British paladin.
Externally, "Daring" is a typical modern destroyer with a total displacement of about 8000 tons. Charming lines of superstructures and hull. A minimum of external decorative elements only emphasize the nobility of the Daring, whose appearance is entirely subordinated to the stealth technology. Below-deck placement, installations of vertical launch of missiles, slender masts, a helicopter hangar and a landing pad at the stern…
In this illustration, the dimensions of Daring are well felt. The destroyer is very large.
But the main secrets of the ship lie inside - under the brilliance of polished decks and radio-transparent antenna caps, there is SOMETHING that defied all existing technologies and canons of sea combat in the "surface-to-air" format.
British scientists, in collaboration with their Italian and French counterparts from MBDA and the Thales Group, played all-in by managing to create the world's first anti-aircraft missile with fully autonomous targeting, on the principle of "fire and forget."
Of course, this does not exclude the possibility of external control of the missile: all Aster 15/30 missiles are equipped with a reprogrammable autopilot: in the middle section of the trajectory, the missile can be contacted by means of the ship's electronic means and correct its flight - up to the complete cancellation of the mission.
But the real trick happens in the final leg of the flight: the Aster 15/30 rocket has an active homing head (GOS).
All! No more restrictions and ordeals associated with the need for external illumination of the target - the active seeker independently emits radio waves and receives the reflected signal. The destroyer "Daring" can, like a machine gun, "hit" at air targets, without thinking about the number of missiles in the air and the number of fire control radars on board - it simply does not need them.
An anti-aircraft missile with an active seeker is a real surprise for enemy aircraft: in vain the pilot throws the plane down, trying to escape to an extremely low altitude - where it cannot be reached by the illumination radars installed on board the ship. The launched Aster-30 missile will calmly follow the intruder in any direction - having seen its opponent only once, it will never lag behind its “victim”.
The excellent flight characteristics of the Aster 30, excellent maneuverability and high speed flight, reaching 4.5 speeds of sound, allow the interception of any aerodynamic targets in the altitude range from 5 to 20,000 meters: aircraft, supersonic cruise missiles, as well as warheads of short-range ballistic missiles.
A big toy. The length of Aster 30 reaches 5 meters. Starting weight 450 kg
On April 4, 2012, another record was set - the French frigate Forbin * was able to hit a GQM-163A Coyote supersonic drone flying over the crests of waves at a speed of Mach 2.5 with an Aster 30 anti-aircraft missile.
At that time, the GQM-163A Coyote imitated the promising Russian-Indian Brahmos anti-ship missile. It is reported that the flight altitude of the drone was only 15 feet (5 meters) - thus, the Aster 30 anti-aircraft missile for the first time in the world demonstrated the real possibility of intercepting supersonic targets flying at extremely low altitude.
*D 620 Forbin - Horizon-class frigate. Almost a complete analogue of the Daring, with the only difference that the British destroyer is even cooler and more perfect
In addition to the "long-range" Aster 30, the destroyer's ammunition load includes the "short" Aster-15, which is a complete analogue of the Aster 30, but without a starting accelerator (booster). Despite the worst flight characteristics (firing range of only 30 km, maximum flight speed of no more than 3.5 M), the “short” Aster 15 has one important advantage: a shorter reaction time, and, consequently, greater opportunities for intercepting targets in the near zone ( "dead zone" is only 1 mile from the side of the ship) - reliable means for self-defense of the ship from low-flying cruise missiles.
All this is the European marine anti-aircraft complex PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missle System), which includes, in addition to missiles of the Aster family, vertical launchers of the SYLVER type and a fire control system based on EMPAR or SAMPSON multifunctional radars.
Unlike the Italian and French frigates, which use the powerful but generally unremarkable three-coordinate EMPAR radar, the Daring is equipped with a much more bizarre device - the SAMPSON active phased array radar (PAAMS S modification, also known as the Sea Viper ).
When designing their super-destroyer, British scientists considered the American scheme adopted on Aegis cruisers and Burke destroyers (four flat fixed antenna arrays of the AN / SPY-1 radar placed in quadrants at 90 ° intervals) to be suboptimal. Such a scheme, with its apparent simplicity and efficiency, has a number of disadvantages: for example, it is ineffective in repelling massive attacks from one direction - this overloads the grid, while it is not possible to use the other three. Another important drawback - the American solution does not allow installing four heavy headlights high above the water surface (really, why not mount an additional mast under each of the four antennas?) - as a result, the antennas are simply attached to the outer walls of the superstructures, like paintings in the Tretyakov Gallery, which is somewhat limits the radio horizon and the detection range of low-flying targets.
British sailors are different.
At the top of the Daring's foremast, a radio-transparent dome shines in the sunlight, under which a platform with two active headlights, 2560 emitting elements each, rotates.
Radiating elements are grouped into 640 transceiver modules, 4 elements each, capable of realizing 64 different signal gradations in phase and amplitude. Communication with the central computer is carried out via a fiber optic network with a data transfer rate of 12 Gbps. The mass of the antenna post is 4.6 tons, the rotational speed is 60 rpm. The range of emitted frequencies is 2-4 GHz (Short-band range at the junction of centimeter and decimeter waves). There is an antenna cooling system to reduce the thermal signature of the destroyer. In the future, it is possible to install a third antenna array facing the zenith.
As noted above, a fantastic device is able to see a bird from a distance of 100 km - at short distances, the vigilance of SAMPSON is amazing. In theory, the energy capabilities of SAMPSON allow you to control the airspace at a distance of several hundred kilometers, however, this is no longer his task - see the next paragraph.
In the aft part of the Daring superstructure, a second early warning radar (hell, one is better than the other!) With an active phased array - BAE Systems S1850M, operating in the decimeter wave range, is mounted. Anthracite-black antenna S1850M weighing 6 tons every minute makes 12 revolutions around its axis and is capable of automatic mode track the position of up to 1000 air targets within a radius of 400 km from the side of the ship.
New "Dreadnought"
The efforts of the engineers were crowned with success: on February 1, 2006, swaying majestically on the waves of the Clyde River, the destroyer Daring, the lead ship in a series of six destroyers, set foot on the water. The invincible Asterion, whose arrows that hit without a miss will “land” anyone who dares to break through to him through the air.
To date, HMS Daring is the world's most advanced air defense (anti-missile) defense ship, whose capabilities, when repelling air attacks, are "plugged into the belt" by any American "Burke" or Russian nuclear cruiser"Peter the Great".
Exactly 100 years before Daring, on February 10, 1906, another British ship, HMS Drednought, made a similar revolution in shipbuilding - the legendary battleship, whose appearance instantly made all battleships and battleships existing at that time obsolete.
But, despite the repetition of success and impressive air defense capabilities, it was not without a mandatory portion of tar: one of the main drawbacks of Daring is its too narrow specialization.
Anti-aircraft missiles are good, but where are the strike weapons? Where are the anti-submarine weapons? Where are the melee systems like the Russian Dirks or the American Phalanxes? And why is the anti-aircraft ammunition load so small - only 48 Aster 15/30 missiles?
USS Barry (DDG-52) - US Navy Orly Burke-class Aegis destroyer
In an impartial comparison with an American classmate - the Aegis destroyer of the Orly Burke type, the British Daring looks like a real mediocrity. "American", with a similar displacement (9000 ... 9700 tons against 8000 "Daring") and an equal cost, carries 96 vertical launchers, each of which can contain an anti-aircraft missile of the Stenderd family, SLCM "Tomahawk", anti-submarine missile torpedo or self-defense missiles ESSM (4 in one cell). Small-sized Mk.46 torpedoes, a larger caliber of universal artillery and the presence of self-defense systems (Phalanxes, SeaRAM) on board can not even be taken into account - and without these "little things" it is quite clear that the Burke is a more efficient and balanced ship, and relatively weak air defense capabilities are compensated huge amount built destroyers (62 "Burks" against 6 "Darings") - there will be enough radars and missiles for everyone.
However...
The obvious advantage of Burke over Daring is not at all obvious if you look at the situation from a slightly different angle.
Critical experts usually do not take into account that Daring is structurally underloaded - on it, like on most ships of European countries, for economic reasons, a number of originally planned systems and equipment are missing. Currently, British sailors simply do not need a surface ship with sea-launched cruise missiles, and the installation of anti-ship missiles would be a waste because there is no way to use all these weapons.
If necessary, the imaginary weakness of Daring can be corrected as soon as possible: the destroyer can be equipped with two 8-charge UVP modules - the French SYLVER A-70 or the American Mk.41 VLS in the "shock" version - to accommodate 16 cruise missiles "Tomahawk" or promising European SCALP Naval.
Modernization is facilitated by the modular design of the destroyer and the initial unification of the ship's systems with European and American weapons.
Also, there is a reserved space for the installation of Mk.141 launchers for launching Harpoon anti-ship missiles. In addition to the two already existing Oerlikon DS-30B rapid-fire artillery mounts with optoelectronic guidance systems, it is possible to install Phalanx CIWS automated anti-aircraft guns.
Like any modern ship, the Daring is moderately versatile and allows you to solve many urgent tasks that the Navy faces today.
The Daring can hardly be called toothless in terms of anti-submarine warfare: as befits a modern destroyer, it is equipped with an MFS-7000 underwing sonar, and the lack of PLUR and small-sized torpedoes is partially compensated by two Westland Lynx anti-submarine helicopters (or one heavy multi-purpose AgustaWestland Merlin with max. takeoff weight 14.6 tons).
Versatile artillery is available - Daring is capable of providing modest fire support with its 4.5-inch (114 mm) Mark 8 naval gun or repelling a possible terrorist attack (such as the blowing up of the US Navy destroyer Cole in the port of Aden, 2000. ) using the two above-mentioned Oerlikon DS-30B installations.
Special features include a flagship command post, semi-rigid powerboats and mini-UAV capability. The comfortable interior of the destroyer with air conditioning, LCD panels and Wi-Fi can be turned into a modern hospital or a center for evacuation and assistance to victims of various emergencies in the blink of an eye.
It is noteworthy that a crew of only 190 people is enough to control a ship of considerable size (for comparison, the crew of the American destroyers Burke consists of almost 400 sailors).
The new British ship is worthy of sincere admiration. Once again, the old hymn “Rule, Britannia, the seas!” will sound over the sea, however, this time it is worth recognizing that despite all its British stiffness and the lingering sounds of bagpipes, the fantastic destroyer Daring is a cooperation of efforts the best specialists from all over Europe.
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Eight destroyers of the Daring class were the first ships of this class built in the UK after World War II, although they were already under development at the end of that war. The design of these destroyers reflected all the experience gained by the Royal Navy over six long years of war, although there was also a departure from tradition in that they were larger and more capable than the rest of the British destroyers, with the exception of almost contemporaries of the type " Battle". Despite the fact that in other countries ships of this size were considered destroyers, the Admiralty decided in 1953 that ships of this type were in fact light cruisers, not large destroyers.
These destroyers were laid down between December 1945 and July 1948, launched between 1949 and 1952, and delivered to the Navy between February 1952 and March 1954. The ships were built at seven shipyards and are divided into two groups. "Dainty", "Daring", "Defender" (former "Dogstar") and "Delight" (former "Disdain" and "Ypres") had on-board power supply with a voltage of 220 V. DC, and "Wild" (former "Dragon" ), "Diamond", "Diana" (formerly "Druid") and "Duchis" - 440 V AC, which later became the standard in the Royal Navy.
Since 1963, these destroyers have been upgraded. The aft 533-mm five-tube TA had already been removed by that time, and now another one of the same TA and anti-aircraft guns with guidance on the RNAS (each of the two 40-mm Bofors guns) on the wings of the bridge were dismantled, the Mk 6M automatic firing was replaced by MRS3, and four ships with an onboard DC network were equipped with two more reliable twin 40-mm anti-aircraft guns Mk 5 Bofors. Ships with an AC network received single-gun 40-mm AU Mk 7 Bofors.
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In 1963, a launcher with four guides for the Sea Cat short-range missiles was installed behind the second pipe on the destroyer Wild. To control the firing of these missiles, the MRS8 (Medium-Range System Mk 8) CICS with radar control was used, which was created on the basis of the CRBF (Close-Range Blind Fire) fire control system with the replacement of ballistic computers by a computer. Tests of this system were successful, but the Admiralty decided not to put it on ships of the "Daring" type, so the missile launchers and BIUS from the RNAS were dismantled.
For some time after construction, the destroyers Diana and Daring had a different aft chimney casing from other ships. This was done at the personal request of Admiral Lord Mountbatten and greatly improved appearance ships. However, the casing limited the sectors of fire of the aft anti-aircraft guns, so a few years later these destroyers were equipped with a casing standard for all ships of the series.
Ships of this type served in many areas of the oceans, where the British fleet was present. But by that time, the rapid development of new technologies led to a rapid increase in the combat capabilities of surface ships, and even more capital ships than destroyers of the Daring type, there was not enough space to install new types of weapons and electronic equipment.
In 1964, Dachis was handed over to the Australian Navy to replace the Voyager destroyer (the lead ship in a series of four based on Daring-class ships), which sank as a result of a collision with the aircraft carrier Melbourne, and retained its name until the withdrawal from combat strength of the fleet in 1979. In 1970, the destroyers "Wild" and "Diana" were sold to Peru and became known as "Ferre" and "Palacios". In 1975, they were equipped with a helipad. The first of them is still in service, and the second was withdrawn from the fleet in 1993. The armament of the EM "Ferre", equipped with an improved radar, includes six 114-mm guns, two twin 40-mm guns "Breda" (Bofors guns) with fire control radar and the ability to install up to eight anti-ship missiles MM.38 "Exoset". The destroyer "Diamond" from 1971 to 1980 served as a training ship. The rest of the British destroyers of this type were excluded from the fleet in the early 1970s.