BAE Systems has secured a contract worth USD 180 million from Sweden for its TRIDON Mk2 air defence system, the company said.
The deal, awarded by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, covers the supply of the truck-mounted 40 mm gun system designed to counter a range of aerial threats, including drones, cruise missiles and aircraft.
The TRIDON Mk2 is intended to address short-range air defence gaps, combining mobility with multi-target engagement capability. In addition to aerial threats, the system can also be used against ground targets such as armoured vehicles, broadening its role in both military and infrastructure protection.
“We are more committed than ever to providing our customers with protection from ever-evolving aerial threats,” said Lena Gillström, president of BAE Systems Bofors. “The TRIDON Mk2 has been designed for today’s warfare.”
The system is built around a modular architecture, allowing it to be adapted over time as new technologies are introduced. BAE Systems describes it as a relatively low-cost and deployable solution compared with more complex missile-based systems, with simpler maintenance requirements.
The contract follows a separate procurement in February, when Sweden and Denmark jointly acquired TRIDON Mk2 systems for donation to Ukraine to strengthen its air defence network.
Shows just how much organic anti aircraft capability a T31 has when you think it has two of these, plus the 57mm and a Sea Ceptor system.
Not quite sure how it does that but whatever.
Ron, if you have 2x40mm and a 57mm all pointed at the threat, you will have to launch hundreds of attack drones to get one though.
A T31 will be thowing a constant beaten zone the size of a football field into the threat.
Aircraft, ASM, drone of fast attack platform, drone boat etc, its all getting shredded into scrap steel.
The Gun systems are 100% on point and precisely what the RN needs.
If T45 wasn’t stuck in an endless refit cycle already, I would transplant two 40mm and replace the obsolete and virtually useless mk8, with a 57mm main gun.
A T45, with 48 Astor 30, 24 Sea Ceptor, 2x40mm and a 57mm, plus Dragonfire, would be the words most capable Air Defence destroyer.
Its absolutely what should be considered for T83, but with a substantially larger missile load out.
The Mk8 has no anti air mode, nor air burst ammunition.
It’s only anti air ‘capability’ is to fire a splash barrage as per early WWII tactics against torpedo bombers.
The strange thing is that it did have some AA ability for a while but the MOD removed the software from the ships to do so. Not that it would have excelled in the role but it was able to do something
Sadly, I don’t believe any air to air modes are supported anymore…
So, unless we are planning to close range and juke it out, Battle of Jutland style with an opponent, I fail to see any real use for it…
Its purely still there because we have an existing (and ageing) ammo stock and spare M8 mounts, thanks to the growing number of withdrawn T23’s.
Its really quite useless.
I think that was why ideally he wanted it replaced as laid out above.
And yes, everyone agrees with you 100%, the Mk8 on the T45 is just ballast and should be replaced ASAP
No hate for the 40mm but swapping the DS30Bs for DS30Ms and getting AHEAD ammunition (preferably for the whole fleet) would be simpler.
Sounds like a good compromise, its incredible that we are still using 40 year old B systems in this incredibly high threat era, with apparently no plans to even consider moving to M!!!
Just how many Sea Ceptor and Astor missiles have been expanded at $30,000 attack drones?
The value is probably enough to replace ( or upgrade) all the B mounts in the fleet to M, with a good supply of modern magic source filled ammunition.
I’m not expert but reading the BAE data sheets for the 40mm and 57mm I read about lots of programable ammunition, good range etc I’m prepared to believe they could deal with a sustained assault by propeller driven drones. Faster turbo jet sea skimmers / AShM would be harder, but if you assume they are defected at the horizon and are coming straight at you, I reckon ( quick fag packet calculation ) the ship has about a minute to hit it with a Sea Ceptor or the 57mm, possibly even without needing guided rounds. If it’s detected above the horizon a Sea Ceptor would kill it. Also the Wildcat with Martlet has been tested against a Banshee drone…not sure which type though. I’m hoping they have gamed likely scenarios and factored in the Diamond, Richmond experience?
My impression of the type 31 is that when in a carrier group it’s going to be a floating ciws battery. Stick one either side of the carrier and they will be perfect picking off any swarms of drones or missiles that get through the type 45 or other escorts.
I totally agree, that will be its main job, a Carrier strike group inner defence ring.
Not putting CAMM and 40mm bofors mounts on the QE class seems mind boggingly stupid.
Considering their 70,000 ton displacement, I wouldn’t think putting an eight round CAMM mushroom farm and co-loacated bofors mount on each corner, wouldn’t be an insurmountable problem.
I would think the soft launch system is ideal for a carrier too…
Yes indeed wether by very good planning or sheer good luck I think the t31s will be far more useful then many people think and maybe don’t deserve the slating they get at times! Once fitted with 32 mk41 vls this transforms them into pretty serious general purpose warships freeing up the top tier warships.
If only we had the money and the crews for 5 more of them🤬
Until an enemy submarine finds it outside the sonar coverage of a Type 23 or 26.
Then it’s a bad day
As an under armed patrol frigate the enemy might not expend too much effort, but add MK41 and long range cruise missiles that can strike 1000km , then it becomes a High value target, worthy of a torpedo.
Ha that’s why It wouldn’t be put in that position in the first place you have to understand how navies work these ships are built for general dogs body missions anti drug smuggling anti pirate General policing roles that you don’t want to waste a type 45 or type 26 on freeing them up for the actual major war fighting!
I am sure that Type 12 and Type 21 were not meant to be static a few miles off shore in the Falklands.
The Type 42s were not meant to be dodging Exocet.
Paras were not meant to be doing crowd control in Londonderry in the early 1970s.
Why do people like you say these things?
Then why put Mk41 on it to start with?
Ha well yes that would of been the sensible option but the treasury probably said no I would guess.
Also babcock had it written in to the contract the navy couldn’t change the specs I believe.
I think he was saying why put Mk 41 on it if it’s only going to be used in the way you describe as general policing duties. Not sure you need an expensive Mk 41 set up for that and it would be cheaper not to have them so the treasury would be more than happy surely. No I think plans for them have propelled upwards since initially conceived.
Ahh my bad I read that wrong I was out 2 pints in at the time.
Yes good point but one would of been useful now in the middle East armed with mk 41 and land attack capabilities we wouldn’t of needed hms Anson to depart Australia then.
And yes I think you are correct there mission set could be expanding from the original plan for them.
Good thing it has torpedo detection and countermeasures then 🤷🏻♂️
I love how nations throughout Europe have a mix of GBAD SAM systems and also gun types such as this yet we apparently don’t need them.
OTS types exist and HMG need more committees to “consider” what to do next.
How about equipping all of 16RA with enough Sky Sabre for a start? Again, the system exists, no need to develop it.
Or is it that OTS doesn’t send enough pork to the MIC for you?
Precisely….
Stick the steering wheel on the other side and order 50 of them right now.
A highly capable 40mm Bofors on a truck, air transportable and able to self deploy around any potential target quickly, its an easy and quick improvement we could implement.
What’s not to like?
That and immediately order a doubling of our Land Ceptor capability.
I would add, is it possible to upgrade the Land ceptor to use the ER missile?
Pushing the existing UK GBAD umbrella out to 30 + miles, would appear to be another ‘relatively’ easy fix and an evolution of the current in service system.
These are much too reasonable and as such, never be implemented.
Well until the horse has bolted anyway.
I can see the 40mm is a highly capable naval weapon but nearly useless on land. Limited ammunition and range for what is on land a one trick pony.
If your trying to shoot down drones which is about the only thing it’s useful for then the Ammo is cheap but the weapon system cost and logistics to get it to target are massive. It’s probably only useful against drone swarms but then the CTA 40 is probably even more useful against drone swarms and it serves multiple roles as well.
A laser guided missiles system is more cost effective and has a pretty good duel role capability against enemy armour
Bear in mind that Army, as soon as Sky Saber, was ready for delivery reduced the order as they ‘wanted something longer ranged’.
That is the usual army gold plated perfectionism.
Now, of course, a something that works has a usage case. So the more Sky Sabre and the 40mm, as we always say, does have a usage case too.
The army for many years has also had a thing against AA guns
To be fair everyone had a thing against gun based airdefenses for a long time. Even with advanced gun direction and early detection from paired radars they were still subpar to even the rather temperamental missile based SHORAD options available since 1980 onwards, it’s only since 2022 that people have suddenly decided they are a necessary addition to airdefense once again as a supplement – not a replacement – to certain missile based SHORAD needs.
If I’m a boring twat, I’d be swallowing my pride and asking the French for some of those Aster 15/30s in a Land Configuration. Throw in some Sky Sabres with the CAMM-ER versions, and a series of 40mm and 20mm Cannon AA tanks and trucks… Oh and Basically increase the order to fit out the RAF Regiment with a matching capability, so they can worry about Airbase defence from Ground to Air attacks, and the Army can do their army group air defence.
I got quite excited for a moment seeing the headline, thinking we were at last doing something about AAW. Silly me, I should hve known.
So do I – I read it and then reality struck back…
We both had an attack of optimism S.B.😏
A country that turns intentions into actions. Imagine a British “considering” turning into action.
I keep seeing the news report about a system called “rapid sentry” but not much information about it. Anyone got any basic information, obviously nothing serious I’m just curious.
It’s the Martlet missile linked with the SAAB Giraffe extending radar. With some E.W. as well I think.
Yes, the LMM. I posted two replies using differing formats but I’m being moderated again for some reason?
I always think of you as moderate, my friend. 😊
Thanks mate.
It’s been linked with giraffe 1 x in both rapid sentry and also on HVM batteries.
👍😊
If this 40mm unit is going on our T31s then wouldn’t be sensible to have some of these on the back of a truck for land GBAD? Somethings got to be there to protect the very missile launchers themselves. Or, the Paladin Terrahawk 30mm, Boxer Skyranger 30mm or the Moog LMM & 30mm RWS on something?
Yep totally, we will already be operating the system, just on a ship instead of a truck!
UOR, order 50 units right now, we will of course do precisely fu#k all!
Let’s face it, when it reaches a point that Starmer the clown has to write post dated cheques every few months to keep the lights on at Edgewing HQ, you know you are dealing with a government that’s got zero intention of taking defence seriously.