Royal Navy to build its way out of "difficult transition" where old ships retire leaving fleet short, MP says
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Innovation and technological advancement will push the Royal Navy through a short term transition period, the defence secretary has said.
Labour MP John Healey remained positive that increased investment and pushing towards a hybrid navy will secure the force’s future, even with a shrinking fleet. While modern frigates are being built, many older vessels are being retired after passing their life expectancy.
Former Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin highlighted the problem in a defence select committee meeting this summer, where replacement vessels aren’t quite ready while ships are being decommissioned. Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse announced last Friday (December 5) that HMS Lancaster would be retired in Bahrain after nearly 35 years of service.
When asked aboard HMS Prince of Wales on December 4 if the fleet is facing short term problems, the defence secretary said: “We support the Royal Navy through investment in infrastructure like Project Bentham, and the programme of investment in Portsmouth. For the first time in two generations, we’re building two submarines at the same time and two different frigates at the same time.
“This is a big investment in the country and the future of the Royal Navy, and the transformation that we’ve seen and the potential that brings for a stronger force demonstrates that Britain is at the forefront of innovation in Nato.”
The number of active Royal Navy frigates has fallen to seven after HMS Lancaster was retired. Replacement Type 31 and 26 warships are not expected until the late 2020s and early 2030s, with the former programme under major pressure to meet its requirements.
In the short term, the force may have to focus itself on specific areas and not across the globe. The number of deployments in the Middle East, for example, has dropped sharply over the past decade. The long term vision for the Navy is clear, create a hybrid force of conventional warships supplemented by autonomous systems.
The Atlantic Bastion programme outlined at HMNB Portsmouth shows what the future looks like, but concerns remain in the immediate present. Speaking about Atlantic Bastion, Mr Healey said: “It demonstrates that the Royal Navy is pioneering the transformation of navies into hybrid navies across the world.
“In doing so, it opens up the potential for some would say a £350bn market in the future. If we’re at the leading-edge of that and the first mover, as we are, that’s a huge opportunity for our military, and businesses that can grow off the back of that.”
He added: “We’ll be at the forefront of transformation and innovation that we got a glimpse of in the Atlantic Bastion programme, that we demonstrated for the first time. Our nation and military will work differently with industry.
“It won’t be just industry waiting for the contracts to be issued, but industry will be coming up with the solutions and investments alongside government commitments. We will respond to any of the threats that Putin and other adversaries may pose to this country.”