HMS Dragon (D35)

HMS "Dragon" is the fourth ship of the Type 45 or 'D' Class of air defence destroyers being built for the Royal Navy.

Construction and Launch

"Dragon"'s construction began at the then BAE Systems Naval Ships (later BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions) yard at Scotstoun on the River Clyde in December 2005, and by December 2007 the bow section was in place on the Govan slipway for mating with the other modules.

The "Daring" class will be one of the most advanced air-defence warship classes in the world. [cite news | title = World's most advanced destroyer launched tomorrow
work = The Times | publisher = Times Newspapers | page = 37 | date = 2007-01-22 | accessdate = 2007-01-23] The ship's capabilities centre on the SAMPSON Multi Function Radar which can detect targets out to a distance of 400 km and the PAAMS missile system.

On 1 July 2008 BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions was merged with VT Shipbuilding, its partner in the Type 45 programme, to form BVT Surface Fleet. "Dragon" is due to launch from the slipway at Govan on November 17th 2008 at 3pm, and once launched, she will be fitted out at Scotstoun.

Affiliations

"Dragon" will be affliated to the capital of Wales, the City of Cardiff.

References

External links

* [http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.2228 Royal Navy Website photo gallery]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6686029.stm BBC - "Navy Destroyer linked to Cardiff"]

ee also