According to information published by the UK MoD on January 28, 2025, the Royal Navy is undergoing an enhancement of its combat management capabilities through a £285 million contract awarded to BAE Systems, aimed at maintaining and modernizing its Combat Management Systems (CMS).
This upgrade will be implemented across several key vessels, including the Type 23 frigates, Type 45 destroyers, Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, and the next-generation Type 26 frigates. The modernization effort is designed to ensure that Royal Navy warships can effectively detect, track, and neutralize threats in increasingly complex and contested maritime environments.
The CMS serves as the core of a warship’s combat capability, integrating information from sensors, radar, sonar, and electronic warfare systems into a single, cohesive operational picture. As naval threats evolve to include advanced missile systems, stealth technology, electronic warfare tactics, and cyber operations, a capable CMS is essential to maintaining tactical superiority. The system enables naval personnel to monitor the battlespace in real time, process large volumes of data, and respond rapidly to threats. Operators rely on the CMS for decision support in navigation, weapons direction, target tracking, and threat analysis, making it one of the most critical components in modern naval warfare.
A major aspect of this upgrade program involves the introduction of RECODE (Reportedly Enhanced Combat Operational Decision Engine), which will significantly enhance the Royal Navy’s ability to process and analyze combat data. By integrating artificial intelligence-driven analytics and automation, RECODE improves the speed and accuracy of threat evaluation and weapon assignment. Modern warships must be able to react to hostile actions within seconds, making the ability to process sensor data and execute defensive or offensive measures in real time a crucial capability. With enhanced situational awareness and a refined tactical picture, the upgraded CMS will improve response efficiency, reducing human workload and the risk of operator error.
The modernization effort also includes advancements in navigation and blind pilotage capabilities, allowing ships to maneuver more effectively in GPS-denied environments, which is particularly relevant in electronic warfare scenarios. Weapon direction and control systems will also see improvements, ensuring more precise targeting for missiles, naval guns, and countermeasure deployment. By integrating these elements into a unified command structure, the Royal Navy enhances its ability to respond to both asymmetric threats, such as drone swarms and small fast-attack boats, and conventional threats from submarines, aircraft, and warships.
This announcement follows a recent Royal Navy operation in which British forces tracked the Russian intelligence-gathering ship Yantar as it moved through UK waters. The ability to monitor, track, and analyze the movements of potentially adversarial vessels demonstrates the importance of having an advanced CMS capable of handling complex surveillance and threat detection tasks. Given the increasing frequency of such encounters, particularly with near-peer adversaries, the modernization of combat management capabilities is not only a defensive necessity but also a strategic imperative.
The Royal Navy’s commitment to digital transformation extends beyond just CMS upgrades. The integration of data fusion technologies, AI-driven automation, and next-generation electronic warfare systems reflects a broader effort to enhance fleet-wide interoperability and operational effectiveness. As the Type 26 and Type 31 frigates enter service, these new platforms will be equipped with advanced digital infrastructure, allowing seamless coordination with existing warships. Ensuring that legacy vessels remain technologically competitive is equally important, as the transition to a fully modernized fleet takes time.
Investments in CMS modernization also align with the UK’s strategic vision for maritime security, which emphasizes deterrence, power projection, and rapid response capabilities. Future conflicts are expected to be characterized by high-speed engagements, cyber warfare, and multi-domain operations, making the ability to rapidly process and act on intelligence a key factor in mission success.
Beyond direct combat applications, an upgraded CMS also enhances a warship’s role in intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, and network-centric warfare. The ability to integrate with allied naval forces and share real-time data across joint task forces ensures that Royal Navy assets remain a crucial part of multinational security operations.
© 2025, GDC. © GDC and www.globaldefensecorp.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to www.globaldefensecorp.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
