In the wake of the 2010 SDSR, there were simply no funds and the problem was repeatedly kicked down the road. The underlying reason the RN is in this awkward position was the failure to plan properly for a Harpoon replacement at least 10 years ago. Although the RN has never fired an anti-ship missile from a warship in anger, the ability to sink enemy ships is an absolutely core function for any bluewater navy and the Integrated Review explicitly stated that peer conflict is increasingly likely. To compound the inability to kill ships, the Defence Procurement Minister, Jeremy Quin implied that integration of SPEAR-3 on F-35 has slipped by another 4 years at will not achieve FOC until 2028.Ī big risk is being taken here, another capability holiday that undermines deterrence, working on an assumption that adversaries will not start any wars in the next 10 years or allies will bale us out. The FCASW is still in the concept phase and may not deliver a viable anti-ship or land-attack missile, hypersonic or otherwise until early the 2030s. The RN is clearly betting big on the FCASW project, although US options are always being “looked at”. With several manufacturers ready to offer solutions, this would appear to be over-stating a modest integration task and the addition of weapon canisters to a few frigates. The original request for proposals from industry called for missile deliveries between 2023-4. The “sticking plaster” approach of spending £250M for 5 sets of missiles to equip just 3 ships is hard to justify and surprisingly he suggested it could be 2027 before ISSGW could have been fitted. The navy is more interested in hypersonic missiles with much longer range. It was clear from the words of the outgoing First Sea Lord that the RN has almost certainly decided not to purchase an Interim Surface to Surface Guided Weapon (I-SSGW) to replace the already obsolete Harpoon Block 1C which will go out of service in 2023. Here we summarise the key issues that were discussed. The source added that this potential ‘Type 31 Batch 2’ may not necessarily be based on the Type 31 design.”Īdditionally, outlining how the cash would be spent, Johnson said that the funding would help “spur a renaissance of British shipbuilding across the UK – in Glasgow and Rosyth, Belfast, Appledore and Birkenhead”.On 2nd November 2021, the House of Commons Defence Select Committee held a session covering a wide range of issues relevant to the current and future state of the Royal Navy. Naval News learned from a reliable UK source that this is in fact some sort of ‘pre program’ put in place for budgetary reasons in anticipation of a future potential ‘Type 31 Batch 2’. Early rumors associated the term with an export variant of Type 31, T4X (Type 45 destroyer replacement), the Littoral Strike Ship project (which appears to be abandoned) or even a typo. “While the 8 Type 26 frigates (also known as the City-class) and 5 Type 31 frigates were already planned to be procured, the real surprise in today’s announcement is the mention for the first time of the “Type 32”. Whilst this is reassuring news for the defence industry, Defence will not overlook the challenges that are ahead, to continue addressing the savings still required and the efficiencies we need to make.”ĭiscussing this news, respected defence journalist Xavier Vavasseur at NavalNews said: “The £16.5 billion investment confirms our order of 8 Type 26 and 5 Type 31 frigates, commits us to the next generation Type 32, and supports the future solid support ships that will supply our Carrier Strike Group. We’re going to commit to bringing online the Type 31 and Type 26 Frigates in Scotland.”Īccording to a press release from the Government: “We’re going to commit to the next generation of frigate the Type 32. “If there was one policy which strengthens the UK in every possible sense, it is building more ships for the Royal Navy.”ĭefence Secretary Ben Wallace said today: Referring to his promise to “restore Britain’s position as the foremost naval power in Europe”, the Prime Minister added: This comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced what the Ministry of Defence have called “the biggest investment in the UK’s Armed Forces since the end of the Cold War”, confirming an injection of £16.5 billion over four years. The new Type 32 Frigate will be built in addition to the Type 26 and Type 31 Frigates in the hopes of bringing the escort fleet up to 24 vessels from its current 19.
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