The first images of the British Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender, undergoing a deep modernization at the Portsmouth dock, have appeared. The ship, which is scheduled to return to service in the summer of 2026, became the first in the Royal Navy to receive a new modular missile silo. Instead of the original plan to expand the existing Sylver mine in the bow, the engineers abandoned the complex and risky integration on board. Instead, the new section was completely fabricated on land as a ready—made block and then installed on the ship using a heavy crane - this approach reduces work time and increases the accuracy of installation.
The new silo will accommodate additional cells of the universal launcher (VLS), which will significantly increase the ship's ammunition, especially in the context of the future deployment of attack missiles. Previously, there was an empty space three decks deep in the bow of the destroyer, which the team even adapted for a gym. Now it turns out that this place was originally intended to install longer VLS cells capable of carrying long-range cruise missiles, but the project was not implemented then. The current modernization can be a step towards restoring and realizing these capabilities, especially in light of the UK's strategic need to increase the strike potential of its destroyers. The updated HMS Defender will not only strengthen the fleet's air defense, but also gain the potential to conduct offensive operations.
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