The British government has approved the Type-45 destroyer program, and expects to sign a $1.5 billion contract for the first three ships by the end of the year. (Two will be built by British Aerospace, and the third by Vosper Thorneycroft.) The entire class is expected to be 12 ships to replace the type-42 destroyers. The ship will be armed with the Principle Anti-Air Missile System. Construction is expected to begin in 2002. The first ship will be HMS Daring; the second ship will be HMS Dauntless and will enter service in 2009. Later ships might carry the US-made Mk-41 vertical launch system so that they can carry land attack missiles.--Stephen V Cole