BAE Systems has been awarded a contract by the Australian government to upgrade the Mk 45 Mod 2 naval gun systems on Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Anzac-class frigates with a Common Control System (CCS), the company announced on 8 January 2024.
The upgrade modifies existing Mk 45 systems to eliminate obsolescence issues and extend the weapon’s service.
More specifically, the CCS upgrade replaces electronics on earlier Mk 45 Mod 1 and Mod 2 gun systems to be compatible with the Mk 45 Mod 4 system: the latest configuration used by the US Navy. In addition to delivering commonality and interoperability with the US Navy’s gun systems, the upgrade will equip the Mk 45s with the capability to integrate future extended-range, precision-guided munitions such as hypervelocity projectiles.
“The Common Control System upgrade is the most cost-effective way to extend the life of Mk 45 gun systems, enabling them to provide critical ship naval fires and creating a configuration that allows for the integration of future precision-guided munitions” Brent Butcher, vice president of weapon systems at BAE Systems, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “We are committed to modernising and equipping allied nations with enhanced Mk 45 gun systems to address current and future threats.”
“The cost-effective CCS upgrade ensures that Mk 45 guns remain supportable for decades to come and ready to integrate the latest, most innovative technology features to support advanced munitions and future mission capabilities for a significantly lower cost than a new gun,” noted BAE Systems in its press release.
Work on the contract will take place at the BAE Systems production facility in Louisville, Kentucky, with the first delivery planned in early 2026.
