HMS Argyll completes Sea Ceptor firings
 

Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll completes Sea Ceptor firings - Janes


http://www.janes.com/images/assets/6...237_-_main.jpg

Firing trials of the GWS 35 Sea Ceptor air defence system have been successfully completed on board HMS Argyll. Source: MBDA

The UK Royal Navy (RN) Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll has successfully completed final first of class firing trials of the GWS 35 Sea Ceptor local area anti-air missile system ahead of formal acceptance into service planned for early 2018.

Two salvo firings were performed from Argyll during a two- week period in late October/early November. GWS 35 is being retrofitted to all 13 RN Type 23 frigates to replace the GWS 26 Mod 1 VL Seawolf (VLSW) point defence missile system as part of the frigate capability sustainment programme.

Developed and manufactured by MBDA under the umbrella of the company’s portfolio management agreement with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Sea Ceptor system is founded on MBDA’s Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM) munition. CAMM employs active radar homing, supported by mid-course guidance updates, to deliver an all-weather engagement capability against targets out to a range of 25 km. Another major feature of the CAMM munition is the use of a ‘soft’ vertical launch system. The missile is ejected from its canister by a piston driven by an explosive gas charge incorporated within the canister; once at height, aft-mounted gas thrusters effect a turnover manoeuvre before the main motor fires.

Argyll completed a first set of first of class firing trials on the MoD’s Hebrides range in July 2017. This campaign saw three separate firing serials, each involving the launch of a single CAMM missile against Mirach 100/5 targets. The second and final set of firing trials, also conducted on the MoD Hebrides range, was designed to test GWS 35 against a more complex and stressing threat set.

Ahh the flowerpot men launchers in a nice walled garden by the bridge.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/985000..._flowerpot.jpg
Still, good to see capability on the rise.

Suppose the good thing about it being active is you can lob it oth.

You CAN can't you?

:p

Woo! Spooky. We could damn nearly dominate seaspace beyond visual range of Frinton with stuff like that.

That'll have them fuzziewuzzies scared. They don't like it up 'em, yer know Cap'n.

Have grown up watching missiles do majestic curves the sudden violent reorientation then burn of the Ceptor is.... unusual.

It starts to give an inclining just how far ASRAAM will go when rail-launched, in thinner air, from a platform that gives it quite a bit of energy at launch....

I am surprised at the spread out/lack of density of the launcher/“missile farm”.

I had read somewhere it can be quad packed in a US style ship launcher (?Mk something or other). Not sure how if it uses a piston to eject it before firing engine. If it can be quad packed, why the acreage for the Type 23 launcher?

Probably a legacy of the Sea Wolf fit, it looks like the same tube positions.

Point defence missile system lacks strategic capability shocker...

It's designed to be a local area air defence system. So a useful step up from Seawolf which was pure point defence, it can also defend consorts. And yes the fit in T23 deliberately re-used the tube layout that Seawolf used, to reduce cost and structural impact.

Indeed. In life there are the people who do stuff, and those who just sit on the sidelines and jeer.


PDR

Just remember that for a few years frigates with Sea Wolf (which can provide extended point defence) will continue to deploy into harm's way, therefore one hopes GWS 26/SWMLU/911 will continue to be supported, despite the drive for cuts.

Well yes WE, pity they have to remove one system imo.

That is a very neat video, what a design. Quite startling to guys of my generation used to seeing traditional launches.

Presumably the Safety Case for this has to include both it not rotating (which would look interesting from the ship:eek:) and it pivoting the wrong way and heading in the wrong direction?

I suppose it saves scorching the paint on the deck.

Unless the rocker motor doesn’t engage! What goes up......

Looks like it actually goes off at a slight angle before rolling over

Don`t the trials include heavy sea,and hard manoeuvering launches....?

Probably can't afford to test missiles in all conditions. Sounds like 1 fired at simple target, 1 fired at tough target (?low level?) and 2 fired at once at 2 targets

Posted picture looks like pretty benign conditions TBH

Bit off topic but interesting!
 

He perhaps owns the world record for the 7 metre sprint?