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Destroyers can be delayed if missile problem persists
The navy will not officially take on new destroyers HMS Daring and Dauntless until her missile system is ready.
Even though they fly the White Ensign the ships will not officially be part of the fleet until the navy accepts them on their in-service dates.
And The News can reveal that the navy has switched Daring's in-service date from February 2010 to just 2010 - potentially buying an extra 10 months as technicians try to identify the problems with the Sea Viper missiles.
The expensive missile system designed to be the main defence for all six Type 45 destroyers has encountered problems at the testing phase.
As reported in The News this month, a trial firing of the system off the south coast of France in November did not go according to plan.
The Sea Viper was supposed to take out two test targets, proving that the ship can defend itself against more than one threat.
But it failed to work, and weeks on the Ministry of Defence do not know why.
When asked by The News if it was a problem with the missile launcher or the missile itself, the MoD said they did not know.
Faced with the problem the service has left the whole of next year to sort it, despite recent criticism of the delays in the programme already.
Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock, who sits on the Commons defence committee, said: 'The Type 45 project has really suffered from the MoD's procurement culture, whereby they keep changing designs and driving up costs.
'Pressure should be put up to make this system work as soon as possible.'
The MoD defence equipment and support arm is working with BAE Systems Surface Ships - formerly BVT - to get the vessels ready for service from Portsmouth.
An MoD spokeswoman said: 'Sea Viper is undergoing a rigorous test programme to ensure that all aspects of this complex system have been thoroughly trialled and any problems resolved before it enters service.
'We are working with all stakeholders - MoD, navy and industry - to ensure this capability is brought into service as soon as possible.
'The Sea Viper missile system will be fitted to HMS Daring before the vessel's first operational deployment.'
She said extra costs would fall to the missile manufacturer, MBDA, not the taxpayer.
She said: 'The cost of the technical investigation and any redesign to resolve the issues that emerge during trials, falls to MBDA.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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