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2015 Defence and Security Review

The MoD has embarked on a major modernisation of the Royal Navy surface fleet. Notwithstanding concerns that the number of ships is at a dangerous and an historic low, it is a program which has the potential to deliver a modern navy with a broad range of capabilities, especially if the GPFF design proves versatile and sufficiently economical to increase the number of frigates in the Fleet. However, there are serious concerns about the funding available for the program and the timetable to which the MoD is working.

The Royal Navy delivers nuclear deterrence, projects maritime power and provides world-class amphibious forces. As part of Joint Force 2025, the UK will have two new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy. These will enter service from 2018, transforming the Royal Navy’s ability to project influence overseas. They will form the core of the maritime task group, with one available at all times. The UK will increase the number of F35 Lightning aircraft buying in the early 2020s to make best use of this world-leading capability, and the Royal Navy will buy three new logistic ships to support the fleet, in addition to the four tankers that will enter service from 2016.

Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates, Astute Class submarines and Mine Countermeasure Vessels will maintain one of the most capable anti-submarine fleets in the world with the introduction of eight advanced Type 26 Global Combat Ships, which will start to replace our current Type 23 frigates in their anti-submarine role. The Royal Navy will maintain a fleet of 19 frigates and destroyers. MOD will also launch a concept study and then design and build a new class of lighter, flexible general purpose frigates so that by the 2030s the Royal Navy can further increase the total number of frigates and destroyers. These general purpose frigates are also likely to offer increased export potential. The Navy will buy two further new Offshore Patrol Vessels, increasing the Royal Navy’s ability to defend UK interests at home and abroad.

Overall, SDSR15 achieved a positive and balanced outcome, growing the Defence budget in real terms for the first time in six years, delivering on our commitment to spend at least 2% of GDP on Defence and enabling us to invest £178 Billion in new equipment for the Armed Forces over the next decade, an increase of £12 billion on previous plans. Brtian is growing the Royal Navy for the first time in a generation with new aircraft carriers, submarines, frigates, patrol vessels and aircraft all on their way.

The Type 26 program is a key element of investment plans which together with the Type 31e programme has put us on a trajectory to maintain and then grow the Royal Navy’s frigate fleet by the 2030s, investing billions in UK shipbuilding over the next decade. This investment will sustain shipbuilding skills at the shipyards on the Clyde and continue to provide opportunities in the wider supply chain around the UK.

The introduction of the Type 26 represents only part of the modernisation of the Royal Navy’s frigates. Five of its existing Type 23 frigates will need to be replaced by the new General Purpose Frigate, the design of which was only in its infancy. The MoD must not allow this programme to experience the delays to previous Royal Navy procurement programs. It also has to ensure that the General Purpose Frigate provides the Royal Navy with the capabilities it requires and is not a less capable ship which is there merely to meet the Government’s commitment to 19 frigates and destroyers, and possibly to be suitable for export. Modular design and “plug and play” incremental acquisition could and should enable this to be achieved. Hulls can be designed and constructed to enable an increase in the number of platforms and subsequent augmentation of their equipment. Furthermore, the refit program and associated costs for the Type 45 must not result in further delays to the frigate programs.

Since her entry into service in 1998, HMS Ocean, the Royal Navy’s first and only purpose-built LPH, had been the UK’s primary airborne amphibious platform. The decision to withdraw her from service was announced shortly after the publication of the 2015 SDSR — the year the vessel completed a £65 million refit. As an LPH, the Ocean was able, like her predecessor Commando Carriers, to embark a large force of Royal Marines and deploy them by helicopter.

HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark entered into service in 2003 and 2005 respectively and are due to leave service in 2033 and 2034 respectively. Placing one of the Albion class LPDs into extended readiness (i.e. into reserve, usually accompanied by a major refit) in 2010 resulted in only one LPD being available at any one time. HMS Albion entered extended readiness in 2011 and came back into service in 2017 after a £80 million refit.96 HMS Bulwark has entered extended readiness in its place and will not re-join the Fleet until 2023.