The Critical Role Of Countermeasures In Multi-Domain Operations

A new era of countermeasures defence

With modern threats reducing the time to react for naval platforms, agility defines Ancilia with the launcher able to elevate from 0° to 90° and rotate more than 300°, enabling precise deployment without ship manoeuvre. The system also supports crews to re-aim in just three seconds, ensuring rapid, flexible protection in engagements where every second counts. This unique design means that a vessel can be protected from all angles and deliver an effective response in dynamic combat environments.

Designed and built in the UK, Ancilia has been selected by the UK Royal Navy for the Ministry of Defence’s Electronic Warfare Countermeasures Increment 1a programme. This will see the solution installed on the Royal Navy’s Type 26, Type 31, and Type 45 warships to provide the platforms with a flexible countermeasure solution.

Based on open, modular architecture, Ancilia is ammunition-agnostic and capable of launching any standard NATO 130 mm NATO standard rounds including flares and chaff to confuse and counter incoming threats. This design ensures long-term flexibility and compatibility with future payloads, maintaining flexibility against emerging and as-yet-unknown threats as well as combatting ammunition obsolescence.