The first unit of the Royal Navy’s next-generation electronic warfare system has rolled off the production line and is undergoing final tests and upgrades.
The Maritime Electronic Warfare System Integrated Capability (MEWSIC) will be installed on the two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, Type 45 destroyers, and the future Type 26 and 31 frigates.
A Babcock-led team, with Elbit Systems UK and QinetiQ, has developed the system under a 13-year, 100-million-pound ($125 million) contract.
Enhanced Defense Against Anti-Ship Missiles
The system includes an upgraded sensor suite and a command-and-control system for enhanced defensive capability, primarily against anti-ship missiles.
“The EW technology will allow more simultaneous detection and identification of radar signals over a greater frequency range than current capabilities,” the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment & Support explained.
“This will aid faster operational decision-making, enhanced situational awareness and anti-ship missile defence capability.”
The initial production model has been set to work at Elbit Systems’ UK facility while the command-and-control system has been delivered for software development.
Trainable Decoy Launcher
MEWSIC Increment 1 is part of the Maritime Electronic Warfare Programme (MEWP), whose other half includes trainable decoy launchers to confuse anti-ship missiles.
The Ancilia maritime countermeasures solution rapidly adjusts the angle the decoy rounds are fired at, allowing a warship to evade missiles without maneuvering.
Developed by Somerset-based Systems Engineering & Assessment, the 135-million-pound ($170-million) Ancilia will replace the existing Seagnat.
A pair of Ancilia decoys will be installed each on Type 26, 31, and 45 warships.
“What takes anti-ship missile defence to the next level is the integration of Ancilia with MEWSIC’s Electromagnetic Warfare Command and Control,” the Royal Navy explained.
“It’s a new capability which allows the automatic fusing together of detected electromagnetic emissions with the tactical picture to give the team in the ops room increased situational awareness, helping them to better understand the operational environment and deliver the right countermeasures to the right place at the right time.”
