Vital HMS Daring upgrades completed after 3000+ days stuck in Portsmouth - when will Royal Navy ships be fixed
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Critical upgrades have been completed on a Royal Navy destroyer which has spent several years on the side-lines.
The state of the Type 45 warship HMS Daring is improving after spending more than 3000 days out of the fleet. Her Power Improvement Project (PIP) enhancements have been completed, which aim to fix long-running issues with her propulsion systems.
These issues have been hitting the Daring-class ships as a whole. Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge asked in a parliamentary written question which of the six Type 45s have gone through their PIP upgrades.
Minister for defence readiness and industry, Luke Pollard, said: “As of December 2025, three Type 45 Destroyers have completed their Power Improvement Project (PIP) upgrades: HMS Dauntless, HMS Daring, and HMS Dragon. HMS Defender and HMS Diamond are currently undergoing PIP upgrades.
“HMS Duncan is operational, pending the start of her PIP upgrade, which will run concurrently with her next docking period at HMNB Portsmouth. We are unable to release further detailed information about the forward integrated PIP schedule and upkeep plans for the Type 45 Destroyers, as to do so could risk revealing future capability levels to our adversaries.”
The UK Defence Journal reported in August that HMS Daring was crewing up for trials and getting ready to re-join the Royal Navy fleet. “Planning indicates that shakedown could begin in December 2025, though January 2026 is considered the more likely timeframe,” they added. “This would mark the ship’s first time at sea since leaving service more than eight years ago.”
The Type 45 destroyer, laid down in March 2003 and launched in February 2006, has spent more time in maintenance and refit than it has been at sea. The PIP updates have been made to resolve in a design flaw in the Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbine intercooler unit has been causing power issues. Brand new engines have been fitted with modifications.
“Completing the Type 45 PIP work is dependent on the availability of ships to undertake the upgrade, balanced against the Royal Navy’s (RN) current and future operational commitments,” Mr Pollard added.
“Class availability is now maximised to ensure that the Royal Navy has been able to fulfil all its operational commitments and PIP remains on target to have all six ships receive their conversions by 2028.”