BAE - UK installs first Mk 45 Mod 4A Naval Gun on HMS Glasgow

UK installs first Mk 45 Mod 4A Naval Gun on HMS Glasgow

According to information published by the UK MoD on September 8, 2024, the Royal Navy has achieved a key milestone in the construction of its new Type 26 frigates, as HMS Glasgow has become the first ship to be fitted with the UK’s Mk 45 Mod 4A medium-caliber gun.

This 5-inch (127mm) gun, designed by BAE Systems, will serve a dual role—engaging both surface and aerial threats, as well as supporting ground operations with naval gunfire. This marks a departure from the Mk 8 4.5-inch gun that the Royal Navy had relied on since the 1970s.
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HMS Glasgow: Role
Fast and adaptable with exceptional range, HMS Glasgow is an advanced anti-submarine warfare vessel, designed to provide essential protection to our nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers.

Though the City-class frigates are still in construction, when they launch they will become the new workhorses of our fleet, building on the pedigree of our Type 23 frigates.

Designed with tomorrow in mind from day one, their flexible construction empowers adaptations and upgrades, so our people will have the weapon systems to be to counter future threats.

What’s more, the latest advances in digital technologies – including 3D and virtual reality – are helping us refine and improve the ship‘s design even as her steel is being cut.

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BAE :
Major upgrades of the Mk 45 Mod 4 include a 62-caliber barrel, strengthened gun and mount subsystems, advanced control system enhancement, and a reduced signature, low maintenance gun shield.

The Mk 45 Mod 4 provides NSFS range of more than 20 nautical miles (36 km) with the Navy's new 5-inch Cargo projectile and an improved propelling charge.

Operation and performance of extended-range munitions are tailored for optimal effect and range in unison with the major subsystem upgrades of the Mk 45 Mod 4 Naval Gun.

Starting with DDG 81, Mk 45 Mod 4 is being forward-fit to U.S. Navy DDG 51 Class destroyers. Other Mod 4 applications include installations for the fleets of South Korea, Japan and Denmark. Existing Mk 45 Mod 0-2 mounts can be upgraded to the Mod 4 configuration, which is planned for CG 47 Class ships as part of the Navy's Cruiser Modernization Program.

BAE Systems provides more than 30 years of experience with Mk 45 Mods 0-4, with more than 240 shipboard applications in the U.S. Navy and nine fleets worldwide. Full life-cycle support is keyed to the customer and can be supplemented by the worldwide logistics system supporting the U.S. Navy.