nformed by recent conflicts in the Red and Black Seas, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is seeking new capabilities for its inventory of Mk45 5-inch (127mm) guns, Australian Defence Magazine reports.
Both conflicts in have highlighted a need for more cost-effective responses to asymmetric capabilities like small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS). In recent months, Warships operating in the Red Sea have often been forced to expend multi-million dollar missiles against relatively cheap UAS that were threatening them or commercial shipping.
In Australia, the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Group began the process of identifying alternate capabilities on October 22 with the release of a Request for Proposal (RFP). The RFP asks industry to submit pricing and capability information about Mk45-compatible munitions that can destroy small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) moving at up to 463 kilometres an hour at altitudes up to 3,000 metres.
The RAN currently employs two variants of the Mk45; the 54 calibre Mk45 Mod 2 on some of the seven Anzac class frigates and 62 calibre Mk45 Mod 4 onboard the three Hobart class destroyers and six future Hunter class frigates.
Any solution submitted to the RFP – which closes on 20 December – will need to be compatible with both Mk45 variants. It will also need to integrate with ships’ existing systems. The RFP has no provision substantial modifications to either the ships’ sensors or combat systems.
“Ships equipped with the Munition will employ organic sensors, such as electro-optics or radar, to detect, track and classify UAS. Engagements will be processed through the combat management system, using known ballistic data and the target information provided by sensors to aim and fire the Munition towards a predicted intercept point,” states the RFP.
The RFP is being used to develop a future Request for Tender (RFT) which will integrate a selected muntion across the fleet. The RFT is expected to be released in April 2025 with delivery ideally to begin in 2026 or, at the latest, 2027 assuming it is a development of a lower Technology Readiness Level system.
Defence also has the option to procure up to 100 rounds of any solution for live-fire testing and evaluation.
