By Matthew Moss in Naval, News, Royal Navy, Surface Combatant, UK October 30, 2026
The Royal Navy’s HMS Daring is approaching 3,500 days alongside but there’s signs her years-long period out of action is finally coming to an end. The Type 45’s social media pages have sprung back to life in recent months hinting at steady progress towards Daring once again being available for sea duty.
Daring, the lead ship of the Type 45 class of air defense destroyers, has spent nearly a decade in extended refit. Launched in 2006, she completed sea trials in 2008 and was handed over to the Royal Navy in December 2008. Daring was formally commissioned on 23 July 2009 and deployed operationally for the first time in 2012. Despite successfully completing a number of operational tours Daring suffered power and propulsion issues which emerged across the class. Daring broke down in November 2010 and April 2012, due to a design flaw in the Northrop Grumman-designed intercooler unit of the Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbines, which compromised power reliability, especially in warm climates.
In March 2018, the UK Ministry of Defence announced the award of the £160 million “Power Improvement Project” (PIP) contract to BAE Systems, BMT Defence Services, and Cammell Laird to remove the two current diesel generators and install three larger diesel generators. PIP work began in 2021 and in May 2023, then-Defence Minister James Cartlidge confirmed that PIP work on HMS Daring had been completed. The vessel remained in BAE Systems’ hands until February 2026.
In June 2026, command of Daring was passed from Commander Graeme Hazelwood RN to Commander Andrew Platt RN as the ship continued preparations to return to sea. In another step forward Daring was fuelled in late September and in late October had a new anchor fitted. At the same time Daring’s crew has been working up using computer simulator equipment ahead of likely sea trials.
As the Royal Navy’s aging surface fleet continues to shrink with the decommissioning of Type 23 class frigates, before the new Type 26 and Type 31 frigates enter service, the availability of the Type 45s is becoming increasingly important. HMS Daring’s return to active duty returns a long-out of action hull to the fleet.
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