The first of the Royal Navy’s next-generation electronic warfare (EW) systems has been delivered as final fests and upgrades are made.
The Maritime Electronic Warfare System Integrated Capability (MEWSIC) will be installed on current and future major surface warships including the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, the Type 45 destroyers and the future Type 26 and Type 31 frigates.
MEWSIC provides a sensor upgrade to the Royal Navy’s existing EW capability, which is vital in identifying enemy forces, equipment and movement, directly impacting on planning and the conduct of operations.
The first production model has been set to work at Elbit Systems UK's facility in Bristol while the updated Combat Management System has been delivered to Portsdown Technology Park to complete the development of the software.
MEWSIC is one half of the broader upgrade to the Surface Fleet’s EW capability under the Maritime Electronic Warfare Programme (MEWP). The other is Ancilia, a trainable launcher for EW decoys to confuse anti-ship missiles.
The £135 million (US$168 million) system – which will replace Seagnat on existing destroyers and future frigates – swivels rapidly and adjusts the angle the decoy rounds are fired at to maximise their effectiveness, which was not possible with earlier decoy systems.
When ready for installation with MEWSIC, two Ancilia systems will be fitted to each Type 26, Type 31, and Type 45 ship.