SEA will undertake an electronics refresh for both the MTLS (pictured during a Sting Ray firing test) and the NATO Sea Gnat/Outfit DLH decoy launch system. (Royal Navy/Crown Copyright)
UK systems and engineering group Systems Engineering & Assessment Ltd (SEA), part of the Cohort Group, has secured a GBP34 million (USD37.5 million) contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) covering the technical refresh and through-life support of torpedo-launch equipment and decoy launchers fitted to Royal Navy (RN) warships.
The five-year contract, announced on 7 October, was placed by the Maritime Equipment and Warfare team in the MoD's Defence Equipment and Support arm. The contract covers the Magazine Torpedo Launch System (MTLS), NATO Sea Gnat decoy launcher system (known as Outfit DLH in RN service), and air-weapons handling equipment, and includes extension options.
The MTLS is a close-range, quick-reaction shipborne anti-submarine weapon launcher system. Each Type 23 frigate has a twin-tube MTLS launcher-fitted port and starboard to fire Sting Ray Mod 1 lightweight torpedoes.
The MTLS technical refresh and modernisation is understood to cover the modification of the MTLS control system in eight Type 23 frigates to resolve obsolescence. According to SEA, the upgraded weapon-agnostic electronics ābring ease of integration and an open architecture approach to enable long-term supportability and compatibility with future developmentsā.
An electronics refresh is also planned for the NATO Sea Gnat/Outfit DLH decoy launch system. Fitted to RN Type 23 frigates, Type 45 destroyers, amphibious ships, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, Outfit DLH uses a number of fixed launchers to deploy 130 mm calibre radio-frequency and infrared countermeasures.
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