Weapons and sensors must be proved before a costly warship is exposed to combat. One way to reduce development risk is to install next-generation equipment in a current ship during refit and learn from its exercises and operations. Type 23 frigate upgrades have tested systems intended for the Type 26 program, giving maintainers and operators practical experience before the new class enters service. Sea Ceptor installations on Type 45 destroyers offer another way to bring equipment into service and check its integration. This approach moves part of the development risk away from the commissioning schedule of the future ship.
Notable Point · 7:38-9:07
Refit testbeds reduce risk for future warship classes
The Royal Navy's refit strategy shows how next-generation weapons and combat systems can be debugged on serving ships before a new class depends on them.