31 Jan 2006
Final preparations are under way on the River Clyde for tomorrows launch of HMS Daring, the first of the Royal Navys new Type 45 destroyers. Daring will be the worlds most advanced warship when she enters service in 2009. She is set to be launched at 14:25 from the BAE Systems shipyard at Scotstoun in Glasgow by Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex.
Eleven thousand tickets have been issued, 1,500 of them to local school children. On the day the crowd will also be treated to a display by the Royal Marines on the river and a Royal Navy Lynx helicopter flying display.
Speaking in advance of the launch, BAE Systems Naval Ships MD Vic Emery said: This is obviously a very important day for the communities in and around the shipyards at Govan and Scotstoun but we should not forget that this is also a hugely significant day for the Royal Navy. Daring will represent a huge leap forward in capability.
The successes we have had in the construction of Daring and the improvements we are delivering on the subsequent ships demonstrate that the Clyde is still the natural home of warship building in the UK.
The class of up to eight Type 45 Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers will provide the backbone of the Royal Navy fleet for the first half of the 21st century. When the ships enter service from 2009 they will be amongst the most advanced fighting ships in the world.
As the Prime Contractor for the programme, BAE Systems is responsible for design and systems integration, supervising the assembly at its own facilities on the Clyde and at VT Shipbuilding in Portsmouth and commissioning the ships to bring them into service.
The multi-billion pound programme is one of the largest defence programmes underway in the UK and is engaging a network of suppliers and partners throughout the UK and beyond, securing thousands of jobs in industry.
About BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. The Company designs, manufactures, and supports military aircraft, combat vehicles, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years and is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems. BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The Company employs 100,000 people worldwide and generates annual sales of approximately 14.8 billion through its wholly owned and joint-venture operations.
For further information, please contact:
Colin Edgar, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 7810 717 860
Charles Thompson, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 7736 810 933
www.type45.com
Any members of the media who wish to attend the launch should contact Colin Edgar at colin.edgar@baesystems.com
