(MOD) MoD responds to NAO report on type 45 Destroyers

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies said:

"The NAO rightly acknowledges the progress made with the Type 45 destroyer programme. Key milestones, such as completion of sea trials have been met ahead of schedule. These are complex, sophisticated warships and where problems arose in the early stages MOD gripped the issue, renegotiated contracts where required and got the programme on track - the first of these impressive destroyers, HMS Daring, sailed into Portsmouth, her future base port in January this year.

I have been following this programme closely since my appointment, and I am pleased to be able to say that progress with both building and sea trials is currently going very well. Four ships are in the water (Daring, Dauntless, Diamond and Dragon) while the other two vessels (Defender and Duncan) are well under construction and the powerful SeaViper missile system has undergone two successful test firings. These ships will form one of the essential pillars of the Royal Navy in the 21st Century."

The first in Class, Daring, is due to enter service in late 2010 and the remaining vessels will enter service progressively through to the middle of the next decade.