Defence Online

The Maritime Electronic Warfare System Integrated Capability, known as MEWSIC Increment 1, will be installed on current and future warships, including the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, Type 45 destroyers and the Type 26 and Type 31 frigates currently in build.

Dr Allan Paterson, DE&S’ Maritime Electronic Warfare Team Leader, said: “The Royal Navy (RN) has invested in an ambitious programme to deliver modern electronic warfare capabilities that will help its surface warships keep the UK and its allies safe around the world.

“It’s fantastic to see the first MEWSIC system being delivered by DE&S and our industry partners so that this crucial phase of testing and evaluation can be carried out, and the capabilities of MEWSIC can be proven.”

Procured by DE&S, MEWSIC will enhance defensive capabilities by replacing the Navy’s existing EW system – the cornerstone of keeping threats at bay – including anti-ship missiles.

The £135M system swivels rapidly and adjusts the angle at which decoy rounds are fired to maximise their effectiveness, which its predecessor cannot do. This means there is no need to manoeuvre the ship to counter the incoming threats as Ancilia will face them directly.

Some things still need to be done manually, however, including loading and unloading Ancilia with decoy rounds. Navy electronic warfare specialists have been testing the practicalities of how this can be done best ahead of the system coming into service.

This defensive combination will give Navy personnel in the operations room increased situational awareness, helping them to better understand the operational environment and deliver countermeasures to the right place at the right time.

The integration of Ancilia with MEWSIC’s Command and Control system makes this anti-ship missile defence formidable. Two Ancilia systems will be fitted to Type 26, 31 and 45 when ready for installation, alongside MEWSIC.

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