New Delhi, February 23, 2021: From shrinking headquarters staff to the UK’s carrier strike group declaring initial operating capability and continued investment in uncrewed and autonomous systems, First Sea Lord Admiral Tony Radakin is overseeing plans to see the Royal Navy transition into a modern force that is more actively engaged and forward-deployed across the globe.
At the Surface Warships conference in January, he commented on some of the aspects of this work.
Shipbuilding and the future fleet
Last November, Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined plans for an increase in UK defence spending to drive transformation and strengthen the role of the Royal Navy. Part of the government’s ambition is to expand the size of the UK’s escort fleet. At the time, Johnson said building more ships was “one policy that strengthens the UK in every possible sense”.
This announcement reconfirmed a number of programmes, and also laid the groundwork for a new ship, the Type 32 Frigate, which is expected to be used as a mothership for autonomous systems.
Speaking at the conference, Radakin said of the work ahead: “The prime minister heralded a shipbuilding era and a clear ambition for the Royal Navy to the foremost naval power in Europe.
“That translates into all eight ships of the Type 26 class, Fleet Solid Support Ships to allow our aircraft carriers to operate anywhere in the world, new multi-role surveillance ships to protect our critical undersea cables, a new class of Type 32 Frigates to add to our new Type 31 Frigates, shipping to support our Future Commando Force and affirmation of the UK’s commitment to the Dreadnought programme and the maintenance of the continuous at-sea deterrent.”
The Fleet Solid Support Ship programme is expected to proceed to the competition phase soon. The planned three ships will be critical to future carrier strike deployments, keeping ships stocked with supplies while at sea.
Elsewhere the First Sea Lord had talked about “shipping to support our Future Commando Force, which could be a reference to the Littoral Strike Ship project that has gone quiet and seen little public mention over the past year.
Speaking at the conference, Radakin added: “This shift towards maritime investment is not unique; it is representative of numerous other navies whether that is Australia, Japan, India, France or the United States.
