Latest news with #SeaCeptor
Edinburgh Live
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Prince William's sharp retort as fan comments on Kate Middleton's appearance
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Prince William delivered a cheeky quip following a sweet compliment aimed at his wife Kate during a naming ceremony for HMS Glasgow. The Prince and Princess of Wales marked the occasion at the BAE Systems shipyard in Glasgow, where Kate had the honour of being the official sponsor for the new Type 26 anti-submarine frigate. Embodying the event's maritime spirit, Kate opted for a striking navy and white coat dress by Suzannah London, paired with a chic Philip Treacy hat. Post-ceremony, as admirers swarmed to see the Royal pair, one spectator remarked on Kate's 'beautiful' appearance. Quick to include William in the praise, she exclaimed: "You too, William!" To which the prince jested, "You don't have to say that, don't worry!". This playful exchange occurred after Kate fulfilled her ceremonial role by pronouncing the traditional blessing, "I have the pleasure to name this ship HMS Glasgow, may God bless her and all who sail on her", in front of a gathering of hundreds of BAE workers and their kin, alongside the ship's crew. The Princess then initiated the bottle smash by hitting a small red launch button, releasing an exceptional single malt whisky from Clydeside Distillery onto the ship's hull—a ritual believed to bestow good fortune upon the vessel and its sailors, reports the Mirror. The princess has been named the sponsor of the formidable 8,000-tonne warship, a cutting-edge Type 26 anti-submarine frigate, since June 2021 and reportedly takes "a real interest" in the ship "and in the lives of those who will serve onboard". This front-runner vessel, the pioneer among an envisioned fleet of eight Type 26 frigates, stands as a bulwark for the UK's nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers. Outfitted with superior capabilities such as the Sea Ceptor anti-air defence system, a formidable 5-inch naval gun, and the capacity to accommodate Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, the ship exemplifies modern maritime prowess. The ambitious construction project of these eight frigates bolsters employment for 4,000 individuals across Scotland and the extensive UK supply network. During a gathering with the BAE Systems workforce, William expressed his awe: "It's massive, I can see that's where the future is going. It's quite impressive, it's a hell of a piece of kit – screams UK power." Following the ship-naming cerebration, the couple embarked on a tour of the partially outfitted vessel, thereafter engaging with BAE staff, apprentices, and HMS Glasgow's crew at an adjacent training facility. In a light-hearted battle of wits, William and Kate vied for victory while assembling a copper pipe puzzle - a secondary school STEM challenge - under the keen observation of BAE apprentices. While William jokingly lamented his unawareness of the contest's competitive nature, claiming amid chuckles from Kate, "It's a race? – that's fine, then I'll race" he humorously conceded to his wife's victory despite describing her effort as 'wobbly'. Apprentice Natalie Black had the honour of guiding Kate through a hands-on test, and later shared: "We had a little discussion about what her kids get up to and I complimented her on how well she was doing up the bolts and she said it was just like playing with the kids' toys." At the reception, the princess couldn't stop expressing her amazement at the grandeur of the ship, the extensive team behind its construction, and the advanced technology it houses. Engaging with the ship's crew and their families, she enthused: "It's so exciting to see it all come together, all the technology is so impressive." She also noted: "What's really interesting as well is seeing the international interest." Kate candidly confessed that she was still familiarising herself with naval terminology, admitting to one attendee: "I'm still learning all my naval lingo. There are a lot of abbreviations that I don't fully understand. I've got a lot to learn."
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Prince William's unexpected response after fan comments on Kate's appearance
The Prince and Princess of Wales said hello to well-wishers as they left a shipyard in Glasgow after attending the official naming ceremony of HMS Glasgow - and one fan couldn't help but remark on Kate's outfit, prompting a response from William Prince William had an unexpected response after a well-wisher told his wife Kate she looked 'beautiful' at a ship's naming ceremony. The Prince and Princess of Wales were at the BAE Systems shipyard in Glasgow for the official naming ceremony of HMS Glasgow - a new Royal Navy state-of-the-art Type 26 anti-submarine frigate. As sponsor of the vessel, Kate had the job of officially naming the ship by smashing a bottle of whisky on its hull. For the visit, Kate embraced the nautical theme with her outfit, wearing a navy and white Suzannah London coat dress teamed with a Philip Treacy hat. After the visit, a crowd of well-wishers gathered to catch a glimpse of the royal couple, with one telling Kate she looked 'beautiful'. But not to leave William out, she quickly added: "You too, William!" But in a surprise response, he told the fan: "You don't have to say that, don't worry!" It came after Kate stepped up onto a podium before a crowd of several hundred BAE employees, their families and the 45-strong ship's company and uttered the time-honoured words: "I have the pleasure to name this ship HMS Glasgow, may God bless her and all who sail on her". Kate then flicked up a small red 'launch' button to release a bottle of exclusive single malt whisky made by the nearby Clydeside Distillery. The ceremonial act is said to bring good luck and fortune to the vessel and its crew. The princess was named sponsor of the 8,000-tonne warship, a state-of-the-art Type 26 anti-submarine frigate, in June 2021 and is said to hold 'a real interest' in the ship 'and in the lives of those who will serve onboard'. The ship, the first of eight planned Type 26 frigates, is designed to provide protection to the UK's nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers. It features advanced systems such as the Sea Ceptor anti-air missile system, a 5-inch naval gun, and the capability to carry both Wildcat and Merlin helicopters. The construction of the eight frigates has sustained 4,000 jobs across Scotland and the wider UK supply chain. William later told a group of BAE staff during a reception: "It's massive, I can see that's where the future is going. It's quite impressive, it's a hell of a piece of kit – screams UK power." The couple also had a tour of the vessel, which is being fitted out, after the naming ceremony, they then met BAE staff, apprentices and members of HMS Glasgow's company in a nearby training centre. William and Kate competed to complete a pipe puzzle connecting pieces of copper piping – a secondary school Stem activity – under the watchful eye of BAE apprentices. The prince later complained he did not realise it was a competition, saying to laughter from Kate, "It's a race? – that's fine, then I'll race" but when his wife was declared the winner, William replied her effort was 'wobbly'. Apprentice Natalie Black guided Kate through the test and said afterwards: "We had a little discussion about what her kids get up to and I complimented her on how well she was doing up the bolts and she said it was just like playing with the kids' toys." During the reception, the princess repeatedly spoke about how impressed she was by the sheer scale of the ship, the number of people involved in the build and the technology on board. Talking to the ship's company and their families, she said: "It's so exciting to see it all come together, all the technology is so impressive." Adding: "What's really interesting as well is seeing the international interest." She admitted that she was still getting to grips with the naval language, telling one woman: "I'm still learning all my naval lingo. There are a lot of abbreviations that I don't fully understand. I've got a lot to learn." Get Royal Family updates straight to your WhatsApp!
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Sweden's Stealthy Visby Corvettes Getting Mk 41 Based Vertical Launch Systems For Air Defense Missiles
Lockheed Martin has confirmed Sweden's Visby class corvettes will use three-cell Extensible Launching System (ExLS) launchers to fire their forthcoming Common Anti-air Modular Missiles (CAMM). Adding CAMM to the stealthy ships' arsenals will give them a valuable air defense capability they currently do not have, but the ExLS arrays also opens the door to more readily integrating additional anti-air and anti-surface munitions. Edward Dobeck, Director of Launching Systems at Lockheed Martin, talked about his company's work relating to the Visby class in an interview with TWZ's Howard Altman from the floor of the Navy League's Sea Air Space 2025 exhibition earlier this week. Lockheed Martin provided additional details in response to follow-up questions from TWZ. European missile conglomerate MBDA, which manufactures CAMM, first announced Sweden's five Visby corvettes would be getting the new anti-air missiles back in 2023, but did not say what launchers would go along with them. 'So Sweden has a three-cell launcher that is being used primarily for the CAMM missile right now. That is providing them additional capabilities,' Dobeck said. 'Sweden is looking at putting their launchers on the Visby class of ship … So now that they're [Sweden] part of NATO, this provides them a great solution to provide them some vertical launch capability and bring that over to them.' 'The Vertical Launch solution for Visby is the 3-Cell Extensible Launching Systems (ExLS),' a Lockheed Martin representative also said when asked specifically what launcher Dobeck had been referring to. An artist's conception of a CAMM-armed Visby that MBDA previously released shows a trio of three-cell launchers on the ship. CAMM can be quad-packed into each ExLS cells, which will allow the corvettes to carry up to 36 of the missiles at a time. The Visby class ships are also getting a version of MBDA's complete Sea Ceptor air defense system to allow them to employ their new missiles. 'Sea Ceptor is a latest generation naval air defence system, providing robust self- and local area- air defence against simultaneous attacks, including saturation attacks, across the full 360° threat axis,' MBDA said in its 2023 press release about integrating CAMM onto the Visby class. 'With a wide target set from supersonic anti-ship missiles to attack helicopters and un-crewed air vehicles, the system has been designed to counter advanced threats.' The 10-and-a-half foot long and six-and-a-half inch wide CAMM leverages elements of the infrared-homing AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), but is an active-radar guided design. CAMM has a stated range of at least 15.5 miles, according to MBDA. Lockheed Martin co-developed the ExLS with MDBA. ExLS leverages technology Lockheed Martin's combat-proven Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS), variants of which are in service with the U.S. Navy and the naval arms of many other countries. ExLS is, however, not directly compatible with the canisterized missiles available for Mk 41-series launchers. ExLS was also developed with a clear focus, at least initially, on being able to fire CAMM, with the first ejection tests of those missiles from the launcher coming in 2017. Lockheed Martin says ExLS paired with Sea Ceptor can simultaneously prepare three CAMMs to fire from a single three-cell array. CAMM-Extended Range (CAMM-ER) and CAMM-Medium Range (CAMM-MR) versions, with maximum ranges of around 28 miles and 62 miles, respectively, have also been in development. CAMM-ER and CAMM-MR are physically larger than the baseline CAMM, and how many, if any, might be able to fit into an ExLS launcher is unclear. As already noted, ExLS launchers loaded with even with standard CAMMs will immediately fill a significant gap in the existing arsenal of the Visby class corvettes. Each of the ships currently has separate launchers for up to eight RBS 15 Mk 2 anti-ship cruise missiles and four 400mm torpedos, as well as the ability to fire depth charges and deploy naval mines. The ships also all have a single Bofors 57mm Mk 3 naval gun that is hidden inside a stealthy turret on the bow when not in use. The ExLS launchers, which are designed around modular payload adapters and an open-architecture systems backend, could also help the Visby class corvettes to fire other munitions, as well as decoys, in the future. In terms of missiles, in addition to CAMM, Lockheed Martin has pitched ExLS as a launching system for the Block 2 version of the surface-to-air RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM), as well as the AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire and AGM-179 Joint Air to Ground Missile (JAGM) – all quad-packed. RAM is also in service on a variety of U.S. Navy ships and is now set to be fitted on all of the service's Arleigh Burke class destroyers. Longbow Hellfire and JAGM were designed originally to engage targets on land and at sea. Longbow Hellfire now also has a demonstrated capability against drones, including from naval platforms, and Lockheed Martin is working toward similar anti-air capabilities for JAGM. ExLS could also be used to launch Nulka decoys, each of which contains an electronic warfare system that actively pumps out signals that mimic the signature of a large warship to help lure away incoming radar-guided anti-ship cruise missiles. Nulka is also designed to hover in mid-air for a period after launch. Previous reports have said that the integration of CAMM and the rest of the Sea Ceptor system onto the first Visby class corvette is slated to begin sometime this year, with the work taking around 12 months to complete. The timeline for when all five ships will have received this new capability is unclear. We do now know that the integration will also include installing three ExLS vertical launch systems onto each of Visby class ships, which could help pave the way for the addition of other capabilities down the line. Howard Altman contributed to this story. Contact the author: joe@
