HMS Defender came out of dry dock today as the complex programme to maintain and update the Type 45 destroyer moves ahead. HMS Defender began a complex £68M upkeep, engine replacement and weapons upgrade project in July 2023. She was taken into number 15 dry dock in Portsmouth, the hull was cut open and three new diesel generators inserted as the key work on the Power Improvement Project. Ultimately the PIP project aims to achieve 4 out of 6 Type 45s available (not necessarily at sea) by the end of 2025. (Although this is subject to the very challenging project to regenerate HMS Daring. The long period of dormancy, about 9 years without going to sea operationally, makes it much more difficult to bring the ship back into working condition).