Active Royal Navy weapon systems

The main purpose of the gun is naval gunfire support – artillery bombardment of shore targets.

[1] The 30 mm DS-30B Mk 1 and DS30M Mark 2 are 30-millimetre (1.2 in) automated naval gun systems designed to defend ships from fast inshore attack craft armed with short-range weaponry.

The systems are fitted to all Type 23 frigates (Mk2s), Type 45 destroyers (said to be carrying Mk1s as of 2021), Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) (Mk2s), Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels (Mk1s), Sandown-class minehunter (Mk1) and several Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships (Bay and Tide-class) all reported to be carrying Mk1s when they have weapons packages added.

During Operation Telic, Phalanx guns were removed from ships and were crewed by Royal Navy personnel based at Basra airport, as part of the Centurion C-RAM system.

It carries a 45 kg (99 lb) explosive charge which is powerful enough to punch through the double hulls of modern submarines.

The unit incorporates a remotely controlled surveillance system in order to identify a target, guided from the parent ship via fibre optic cables.

Four independent reversible motors and a hover thruster provide high manoeuvrability, allowing for exact placement prior to charge detonation.

The manufacturer states it has a "wide target set", including the capability to engage small naval vessels, which would give the missile a limited surface-to-surface role.

Whether it's engaging multiple air threats or fast incoming attack craft, Sea Ceptor represents a massive capability upgrade for the Type 23 frigate.

As part of PAAMS, it can defend an entire naval task group against aerial threats up to 70 mi (110 km) away.

It comprises the SAMPSON radar, a Combat Management System, S1850M long-range radar, the Sylver vertical launching system and Aster 15 (20 mi, 32 km) and Aster 30 (75 mi, 121 km) missiles, which are highly manoeuvrable and capable of speeds over Mach 4.

[19][20] Beginning in late 2023, the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) began being fit to a total of 11 Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers in a 2×4 canister configuration to replace the Harpoon Block 1C anti-ship missile, which was formally retired at the end of 2023 (though Harpoon was still retained on HMS Lancaster as of the end of 2024)[21].

[23] The permanent replacement for Harpoon will be the FC/ASW (Future Cruise/Anti Ship Weapon), first announced in 2016, it will fly at hypersonic speed and will equip the new Type 26 frigates from 2028.

[28] The Martlet is a lightweight air-to-surface, anti-aircraft and surface-to-surface missile under development by Thales Air Defence for the United Kingdom.

The missile is intended to counter light fast attack boats[29] Full operating capability is anticipated in 2025.

[31] The Martlet has also been tested in the surface-to-surface mode on the Type 23 frigate, using a launcher mounted on the side of the 30 mm cannon, though it has not been deployed by the navy in that capacity.