UK Plans Land Attack Capability for Future Frigates

The UK has announced its intention to equip its future frigates, Type 26 and Type 31, with long-range land attack capabilities to combat new threats. The UK has announced its intention to equip its future frigates, Type 26 and Type 31, with long-range land attack capabilities. This decision is a significant step in the country’s defence strategy, which aims to combat new threats. During the First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference, the UK’s Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps stated that Type 26 and Type 31 frigates under construction would receive land attack capabilities, according to Naval News reports. Shapps added that the search for this capability was largely influenced by the frequent Houthi missile and UAV attacks on ships from long ranges, which the Royal Navy’s current sea-to-ground options of warships can’t reach. These options are limited to naval guns with relatively short ranges. Currently, the Royal Navy is meticulously considering three options. The first is the BGM-109 Tomahawk long-range cruise missile launched from strike-length Mk41 VLS. The second option is the deck-launched Kongsberg NSM missile, chosen for its EO/IR seeker, which provides a multi-role capability. The last and the most distant option (in terms of operational status) is the future FC/ASW cruise missile under development by MBDA. This careful selection process ensures that the chosen option will be the most effective for the Royal Navy’s needs. The Royal Navy is already using Tomahawk missiles onboard its submarines, and NSM missiles will be used on the upcoming Type 26 and Type 31 frigates. When the two options are compared, NSM will be a standard part of the frigates, but in terms of range, it is significantly shorter than Tomahawk. On the other hand, structural changes will be required to install strike-length cells for Tomahawk missiles.