One British destroyer can outmatch five of its predecessors simultaneously

Wealth & Business · Published 20 October 2026 · Updated 22 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In modern naval warfare, quantity often yields to sophisticated technology. A single Type 45 destroyer possesses the capability to track, engage, and destroy more targets during an intensive attack than five older Type 42 destroyers operating together. It is a masterclass in how advanced sensors can replace raw numbers.

The Type 45 destroyer, also known as the Daring class, serves as the Royal Navy's premier air-defence shield. Designed to replace the Type 42 destroyers of the Falklands War era, these ships are built around the PAAMS (Sea Viper) air-defence system. This system utilizes the SAMPSON Active electronically scanned array (AESA) and S1850M long-range radars to track over 2,000 targets. Notably, the SAMPSON radar has been estimated to track 1,000 objects the size of a cricket ball traveling at Mach 3, providing a significant defense against high-performance stealth targets and supersonic sea-skimming missiles.

The ship's power comes from an integrated electric propulsion system. To supply 4,160 volts for two GE high-voltage induction motors, each producing 20 MW, two GE alternators are powered by Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbines. While designed for high efficiency and an endurance of 7,000 nautical miles at 18 knots, the class faced a major setback in 2016. A design flaw in a Northrop Grumman intercooler caused the turbines to fail catastrophically in warm climates like the Persian Gulf. To fix this, a £160 million 'Power Improvement Project' began in 2018 to replace the ship's diesel generators with three larger units, ensuring the ship can maintain cruising power even if the turbines degrade.

Beyond its technical specs, the Type 45 represents a shift in naval architecture and social standards. It was the first Royal Navy vessel to include gender-neutral living spaces, featuring individual cubicles and flexible six-person berths for a mixed crew. Structurally, it was the first British warship to meet Lloyd's Register's Naval Ship Rules for hull design approval. Despite its massive 7,350-tonne displacement, its 'clean' superstructure and minimized external equipment are designed to reduce its radar signature, with some reports suggesting it may have the radar cross-section of a small fishing boat.

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