Full Breakdown
HMS Duncan Set for Major Refit in Portsmouth
9/7/2026, 11:50:29 PM
Recent Operational History
After completing a de-ammunitioning operation at the Defence Munitions site in Crombie, Scotland on 30 August, HMS Duncan is slated to return to Portsmouth on 6 September to begin an extensive upgrade. The destroyer has been heavily employed in the past two years, serving as flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 in the Mediterranean during mid-2023 and undertaking a rapid redeployment in May 2024 to the Eastern Mediterranean, where she provided air-defence cover for U.S. Navy forces. Subsequent deployments included three months with HMS Prince of Wales on Operation FIRECREST in the North Atlantic and High North, as well as monitoring Russian and sanctioned vessels in UK waters in August 2024.
Scope of the Upgrade
The forthcoming refit will implement the Royal Navy’s Power Improvement Project (PIP) on the final Type 45 destroyer to receive the upgrade. Three new Rolls-Royce MTU diesel generator sets will be installed to increase electrical generation capacity and address long-standing propulsion reliability issues. Air-defence capability will be enhanced by fitting 24 Sea Ceptor missiles in a forward-mounted silo, allowing the existing 48-cell Sylver launcher to be dedicated to longer-range Aster 30 missiles. Additional work includes refurbishment of the Sampson radar, replacement of both rudders, modifications to cooling arrangements for propulsion and high-voltage equipment, and roughly 40 further improvements covering satellite communications, Identification-Friend-or-Foe (IFF) systems and IT infrastructure.
Impact on the Type 45 Fleet
With HMS Duncan entering refit, the number of operational Type 45 destroyers will be temporarily reduced. HMS Daring is expected to return to sea later this year, while HMS Diamond and HMS Defender remain in mid-refit, the latter slated to rejoin the fleet in 2027. The upgrade aims to extend the service life of the class and improve readiness for high-intensity maritime operations, particularly against ballistic-missile threats.
Timeline and Future Availability
- 30 August (occurred): HMS Duncan arrived at Crombie for de-ammunitioning.
- 6 September (scheduled): Planned return to Portsmouth to commence the refit.
- Mid-2025 onward: The refit is expected to last several months, after which the destroyer will re-enter service with enhanced propulsion and air-defence systems.
The refit follows a previous major upkeep that spanned late 2019 to May 2022 and was disrupted by the pandemic, marking a significant investment in maintaining the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer capability.
