A refit of the UK Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster has been started by Babcock Marine, supplier of engineering and support services to the Royal Navy at Devonport Naval Base.
The £11m refit work on the warship will includes a upgrade of the Seawolf self-defence missile system as well as the command system that controls the weapons. The sonar system will also be updated and the range and performance of the ship’s main gun system increased.
The Seawolf self-defence missile system is designed to fight faster and lower flying manoeuvrable missiles. It can also track the objects of a cricket ball size at firm speed and has the capability to launch two counter missiles.
Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies said the ship will become the most advanced frigate in the fleet of Type 22s and Type 23s when the refit is completed.
The renovation of the ship is expected to be complete in 11 months.
