Brits drop CEC capability. So much for equal capabilities.

via the Telegraph.

The revolutionary Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), which has taken 12 years to plan and already cost £45 million, would have allowed ships tracking a low-flying jet or missile to pass the data to the targeted vessel, allowing it to launch defensive missiles, or for them to be launched by remote control.

The decision was criticised by a Navy commander who said it could mean placing the new billion-pound aircraft carriers in harm’s way. “The Navy knows savings have to be made, but the Forces have been asked to do more with less,” said a Navy commander.

“Furthermore, with the coastal environment being the one more likely to operate in during future conflicts you need to have as much reaction time as possible if you’re putting £1 billion ships in harm’s way.”

The system is vital because enemy warships and incoming missiles can sometimes be masked by hilly coastal areas — such as in the Falklands, where the terrain of San Carlos Water meant that an incoming Exocet would not have been seen before it was too late.

With CEC, a destroyer further out to sea could follow the missile’s track then fire the threatened warship’s defensive missiles by remote control. As early as January this year Peter Luff, the defence equipment minister, told Parliament that CEC would be fitted to the £1 billion Type 45 destroyers in 2018 and then the estimated 13 future Type 26 Global Combat Ships. The system would cost just £24 million to defend each ship.

 This is reallya blessing in disguise.

The Navy's partnership missions are a lie to begin with and the Brits not having a CEC capability proves how much a lie it really is.  We will operate in the same areas as allied forces but the capabilites will all be different.  What we need we will need to acquire.  We can't expect other forces to provide it for us.

Air Defense Destroyers?  We better have enough.  Amphibious Warships?  Ditto.  Its the same across the board.  One sad thing is that the Type 45 isn't the shining jewel that it was planned to be.