Cutting missile system leaves warships at risk

The Royal Navy’s warships will be vulnerable to enemy attack after a key project that allows ships to fire each other’s weapons was dropped.

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.

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