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Richmond receives vital combat data upgrade to support Carrier Strike Group deployment
17 April 2025
Frigate HMS Richmond will be able to share more vital combat data even faster with other ships in the UK’s premier naval deployment of the year thanks to a tech upgrade.
The Plymouth-based Type 23 is the first ship in her class to receive the integrated Link 16 Crypto Modernised system, which significantly improves the ship’s ability to share tactical situational awareness with other units.
The enhancement comes alongside a related upgrade - an interim ‘beyond the line of sight’ capability - commonly referred to as Joint Range Extension Application Protocol – which allows tactical data link information to be passed via satellite.
The speed of naval combat in the mid-21st Century with engagements lasting just seconds – such as Richmond’s own fight to fend off Houthi drone/missile attacks in the Red Sea 12 months ago – makes the ability to react almost instantaneously crucial.
In a task group, other ships may be in a better position than the one tracking the incoming threat to physically take it out – making the timely ability to share the right data vital.
This capability has been provided to Richmond significantly ahead of schedule to support her mission as part of the Carrier Strike Group which sails next week for the Indo-Pacific.
“Integration of a modernised Link 16 capability into HMS Richmond is a game-changing enhancement to capability within the UK Carrier Strike Group,” said Commodore James Blackmore, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group who will lead more than 2,000 personnel on the eight-month deployment.
Many great lessons have been learned from this first-of-class embodiment that the team will use to refine the installations of the remaining Type 23 fleet. Well done all, BZ!
“It will provide vastly enhanced situational awareness to ships, aircraft, and the people who operate them while the CSG operates globally, with partners and allies. I am grateful to all who have worked so hard to achieve the integration of this important capability ahead of a global deployment to the Indo-Pacific.”
Captain Dave Downie, the Senior Responsible Owner for the Maritime Multi Link programme, said the installation on Richmond was part of a wider drive to deliver essential modernisation and upgrades across the Royal Navy’s surface ship tactical data link capabilities which would enhance shared maritime situational awareness and increase our ability to work seamlessly with Joint, NATO and coalition partners.
He’s also been impressed by the collective effort to install the upgrade swiftly and effectively in time for Richmond’s key impending role.
“This is a brilliant collaborative achievement for everyone involved in the MML enterprise, from the HQ team in Navy Command, the Situational Awareness and Command and Control DT in DE&S, the industry teams from BAES and Relay, and the valued support from Richmond’s ship’s company.
“Each of these organisations have given 100 per cent effort with many regularly going the extra mile to overcome the obstacles thrown up by delivering a complicated, time-consuming and invasive upgrade into a 30-year-old platform.
“Many great lessons have been learned from this first-of-class embodiment that the team will use to refine the installations of the remaining Type 23 fleet. Well done all, BZ!”