Mysterious Type 83 destroyer programme "under review" against new strategy amid Royal Navy priorities
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Plans to build new destroyers for the Royal Navy is currently being reviewed against a new strategy.
Details how the government will produce Type 83 destroyers has been sparse in recent months. The size of the current fleet has been called into question, despite modern Type 26 and 31 frigates being built.
This project reached the concept phase in July last year, and a business case to build the ships was expected to be issues in June this year. Ben Obese-Jecty, Conservative MP for Huntingdon, asked the Ministry of Defence (MoD) if this is still on track.
Minister for defence readiness and industry, Luke Pollard, said: “The Type 83 concept is currently under review against the Royal Navy’s Hybrid Navy Strategy. Future business case approval remains subject to the Defence Investment Plan.”
The concept of the hybrid navy was outlined in the Strategic Defence Review. It involves conventional warships being supported by autonomous vessels and other systems, particularly in the North Atlantic where they will conduct patrols to protect undersea infrastructure and deter Russian vessels.
The Defence Investment Plan has been earmarked as the policy paper for prioritising certain projects. Long-lapsing its original publication deadline of autumn last year, repeated delays and doubts about appropriate funding has caused concern among politicians and businesses. Several major contracts are hinging on its publication.
Details about what the new Type 83 destroyers could look like were unveiled at the CNE conference in Farnborough last year. Commodore Michael Wood, Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the programme in Navy Command, previously said they would be an evolution of the current Type 45 destroyers and could utilise laser weapons, electronic propulsion, and more digital systems - powered by AI and machine learning. The Naval News reported that they could be fitted with multi-mode sensors, launchers that can fire hypersonic missiles, an app-based combat management system, and other tools.