The UK Royal Navy’s HMS Dauntless has completed three months of sea trials to assess its new engines.
During the tests, the Type 45 Daring-class destroyer demonstrated “three more reliable, more powerful, cleaner generators” that replaced its two original diesel engines.
A store cabin was also redesigned as a high-voltage switchboard to manage the additional power generation.
After the tests, the vessel returned to its homeport of Portsmouth for additional maintenance and system upgrades.
Once the preparations are complete, HMS Dauntless will return to the fleet for worldwide deployment in 2023.
Type 45 Fleet Power Improvement Project
The trials and integration of HMS Dauntless’ new engine support the UK Ministry of Defence’s Power Improvement Program (PIP), a modernization initiative to upgrade the power and propulsion systems on the navy’s Type 45 fleet.
The PIP was awarded to BAE Systems, BMT Defense Services, and Cammell Laird for 160 million euros ($157 million) in 2018.
“It’s important we do this right: we’ve tested PIP robustly to ensure it works correctly. We have a duty to the rest of the Type 45 class to be thorough so we remain at the forefront of air defence operations,” HMS Dauntless Commanding Officer Ben Power said.
“PIP has provided extra flexibility and power that ‘future proofs’ the class for the next 20 to 30 years. It will also enable us to embark and integrate future weapon systems, enhancing the lethality of the Type 45 destroyer,” the commander explained.
Under the PIP, the Type 45 lead vessel HMS Daring is currently receiving upgrades in Birkenhead, while HMS Dragon is receiving new engines as part of broader refit work at BAE Systems’ facility in Portsmouth.
