Prime Minister Boris Johnson said today “If there was one policy which strengthens the UK in every possible sense, it is building more ships for the Royal Navy”.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has 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.

Referring to his promise to “restore Britain’s position as the foremost naval power in Europe”, the Prime Minister added:

“If there was one policy which strengthens the UK in every possible sense, it is building more ships for the Royal Navy.”

Johnson today confirmed that the Royal Navy acquire 8 Type 26 Frigates, 5 Type 31 frigates, the “next generation” Type 32 frigates, the new Fleet Solid Support Ships and a new multi-role research vessel.

According to a press release from the Government:

“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.

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.”

The Government also said on Twitter:

“We will restore Britain’s position as the foremost naval power in Europe. New generations of warships will be built across the UK, from Glasgow and Rosyth, to Belfast, Appledore and Birkenhead.”

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

“This is excellent news for Defence, and provides us with the financial certainty we need to modernise, plan for the future, and adapt to the threats we face. It demonstrates the Prime Minister’s recognition of how important Defence is to our resilience, and to the reputation of the United Kingdom.

This settlement secures UK jobs and livelihoods, allows us to invest in our fantastic shipyards and aerospace industry, spreading prosperity to every corner of the UK.

Next year represents a huge opportunity for this country, and Defence will be at the forefront of creating the jobs and business opportunities that will help us build back from the pandemic. Over the next few months, I will set out in more detail our ambitious agenda for Defence.”

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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121 COMMENTS

    • In many ways we’re barely equal with Italy, France & Turkey. Japan has a far larger navy than ours, as does India, S Korea & several others. We need to restore some of our lost strength so we can be a force to ensure the rule of law & safe trade on the high seas.

        • Japan is in the process of converting two helicopter carriers into handling F-35Bs and has already ordered 42 F-35Bs from the US.

        • Japan doesn’t need range for its submarines, if I was given the choice of 6 SSN’s with only 3 available to go to war with or 18 AIP subs with 9 available it would be a no brainer.

          • Japan isn’t interested in being a global power, though, so AIP is a good way to go for Japan.

            Its most likely adversary is China, and that’s well within range of their AIP subs.

          • To be honest I think we should split that down the middle:

            Our 7 Astute/Trafalgar submarines, plus a class of, say, 6 AIP subs. They wouldn’t have the same range as the SSNs but for anything in North Sea, North Atlantic, even Mediterranean, they’d do nicely.

            We could even permanently base one at HMS Juffair to extend their reach east.

        • Due to China’s building the two Type 001 and 002 Katzenov carriers and then building the Type 003 catobar, with possible another to follow. Japan are redeveloping their two Izumo “helicopter destroyers” into F35B light carriers. If China do get their catobar carrier to work, then I would not be surprised to see Japan build a purpose built carrier. Their post war constitution prohibits them having a carrier. But it was written before China had aspirations on becoming a super power. Their AIP SSKs are pretty good and they will be getting 10 of the new ones.

      • Ship numbers isn’t everything, capability, and the quality of it’s personnel is what makes the RN stand out, and the ability to deploy and sustain world wide operations is the difference between the RN and the above mentioned countries.

      • Green and brown water navies can be bigger than Blue water navies.It does not really matter as green and brown water Naval power only matters if someone is come for your homeland.

        There is only one navy in the world that out match’s the RN where it really matters in geopolitics. that’s in power projection to an equidistant or close to equidistant theatre of war.

        It does not matter how many more frigates a navy like the JDF has compared to the RN, geopolitic realities generally means navies will end up in action against each other a long way from home, the navy that can project the most power to that far side of the world wins.

        There are some very good navies out there, that on paper have significantly more ships than the RN, but from a geopolitical power point of view they are essentially static defensive organisations. Using a rubbish WW2 analogy, they are the naval version of a maginot line. The RN is very much an offensive organisation ( geopolitically and militarily).

      • If your counting hulls as a basis for counting a navy then North Korea is the worlds preeminent naval power. 2 CV’s 2 LPD’s 7 SSN and 4 SSBN’s make us the preeminent blue water navy in Europe and second only to the USN in the world and that’s before this budget increase. No disrespect to Japan they have a navy much like ours in the 80’s but as we found out in 1982 sending an a navy consisting of lots of escorts with little AirPower won’t do much in force projections terms in an A2AD environment and fighting a 1st tier military without SSBN and SSN’s is suicide. If we put the entire budget into SSK’s and destroyers we would have a much greater number but they would be or little use past Rockall.

      • Erm Japan doesn’t have nuclear attack subs nor trident , never mind two aircraft carriers. But agree that more fully loaded type 45’s and frigates would be a big improvement.

      • Bigger doesn’t always mean better, the Royal Navy is far more capability and can project power any where in the world, the Japanese would struggle to operate outside their own sphere and the Turkish navy could not stand against the Royal Navy in a sustained fight

    • Kinda depends if you consider Russia to be in Europe or not, i think they technically are and no chance we are going to overtake their navy.

      • If you actually look at the servicable part of the Russian Navy, the vessels that can actually put to see if ordered I actually think its near parity in capital ships with them having an edge in submarines.

        Their carrier programme has been suspended, destroyer programme cancelled, they have 6 frigates under construction with many they have built over the last two decades sold off to other countries as they cant get engine parts due to embargo.

        • It’s hard to compare as you say a lot of their navy is well past its best, but the sheer number of subs is what would make our navy useless in a war with them, we just don’t have enough frigates / subs to counter it.

          • And how many of those subs are actually in service and capable of deploying and being of any use. Russian numbers can be very deceiving.

          • Based on the poor availability of our frigates and destroyers, i do wonder about the availability of our subs also

          • But a war like that against Russia isn’t likely to be just us vs them.

            Between us, Norway and the US we can dominate the North Sea, North Atlantic, and GIUK Gap with our own submarines, frigates and maritime patrol aircraft.

          • Was just commenting on the most powerful navy in Europe.

            However, it won’t just be Russia though, it could easily be China and Russia plus others.

          • If you look at the Russian navy order of battle, it’s not as large as most people think. A lot of the boats are very iffy around being operational. If we wanted to play the same let’s pretend we have a big hunter killer fleet game Russia plays, we have a lot of tied up boats we could paint, stick a few sailors on and tow around. most of their nuclear boats were designed before I was born and are around my age and I’m not young. Even their new boats are dusted off programmes started by the USSR in the 1970s.

            Only the 2 very new boats are likely peers to a Trafalgar and nothing close to an astute.

          • Well, Jonathan, In Advance of my Own Carefully Considered Contribution, More of Which Later,

            It would seem that “your Suggestion would seem to Have Parallels With the Dummy Fighting Equipment that the Combined Services Providers Ensured were placed in Prominent Locations Along the South Coast of Britain and Particularly During the Run Up to the Assault On The Normandy Beaches on D-Day and Onwards”.

            As I Understand It, From Long Deceased Cycling Club Acquaintances in Scotland, There were Massive Ammunition and Other Ordnance Dumps “Stacked High” Along Scottish Highways and Byways Located North of Glasgow and Outwards Towards Perthshire”, It would seem I Recollect

          • I feel like any situation where we are engaged in full conventional warfare against Russia will be serious enough that Russian gas won’t be flowing into the EU anymore. Plus it’s highly unlikely that we will be the aggressor, so NATO article 5 would almost certainly have been invoked.

      • Morning Steve-you would have to apportion Russia on the basis of land area between Europe and Asia and split their Naval strength along those lines in which case I think the RN would easily win! On the other hand if you did it on population then as I think most Russians reside in the West, then the Russian Navy might still have it! 🙂

        • No AEW, no know-how, that is just starting to be rebuild now. It will take time.
          French also have Scalp in FREMM, subs and can be launched by Rafale,

          • AEW is being regenerated, know how has been retained through deployments with the USN. Which, it should be mentioned, is exactly what the Marine Nationale has to do to keep their pilots current because they can’t maintain a CATOBAR wing alone.

            The RN has more and and better destroyers, more submarines, the future T26 massively outguns the FREMM, we’ll have a full time carrier capacity armed with 5th gen aircraft, and our auxiliary fleet is far superior.

            The only categories the French navy wins in are amphibious assault capability, minesweepers, and low level patrol vessels.

          • “we are already.”

            Is the first message in this topic. No you are not already there.

            About destroyers the French already have the new missile i think and they are better close defended. You are right on quantity assuming they don’t break up…

      • Alex lets take a look at hulls vs hulls right now

        SSBN’s both have 4 about the same age
        SSN’s New France 1 UK 4
        SSN’s Old France 5 UK 3

        Total Sub hulls
        France 10
        UK 11
        UK wins but also our hulls are newer

        Carriers
        France 1
        UK 2
        UK Wins also ours are bigger and newer

        Amphibious platforms
        France 3
        UK 2
        France wins plus yours are newer

        Destroyers
        France 5
        UK 6
        UK wins at least 3 of the French destroyers will be decommissioned in the next 2 years

        Frigates
        France 11
        UK 13
        Yours are a little newer but we have more hulls draw I guess

        France total 30
        UK total 34

        That’s 4 hulls more overall but as you can see many of our hulls are newer than yours we have very many more destroyers that are capable and a lot newer subs. We have a whole extra carrier and I didn’t even start to look at the support fleet which I know full well the UK is about twice the size.

        “French Navy is currently superior.”

        Sorry can’t really see it mate

  2. That doesn’t mean much since it is only France and Italy that are anywhere near comparable. I would suggest they need to:

    1. Get more escorts into the fleet – T32 and the future destroyer sound good.
    2. Sort out the carrier support ships.
    3. Get good meaningful air groups onto the carrier, including AEW!
    4. Get Astute done and in service.
    5. Get Dreadnaught done and in service.
    6. Plan for and begin replacing the Albions & Bays – 2 LHPs best option.
    7. More maritime patrol aircraft.
    8. Maybe some SNs for training & SFs

    Lots to be done. I doubt they are looking beyond Trident, T32 & the Carrier air wing though.

  3. Exactly what are came here to say but that sums up the dismal state of European naval forces rather than our massive superiority.

    Hoping some of that money will go to up gunning some of the fleet we already have, new anti ship missiles/surface launched tlam and some more helicopters would be a start

  4. Let’s wait and see. Lots of details to come.

    So far, so good.

    How will T32 be built alongside T26 T31? Is there spare capacity. Otherwise this uplift is far far away.

    • We have designed a Frigate building facility based around the Type 31 I think. This might just explain your question DM.

      • As the money is now perhaps they are looking at opening another line in England, maybe Northern Ireland? I know there is political pressure from Scotland but we can’t continue to build all RN warships in Scotland other than subs. Basically it’s not fair.

        • Agree. Scotland has T26, let’s use other sites.

          My worry was how, given what I have read here over the months on the state of our yards.

          • I said, ‘other than subs.’ Also we won’t get an expansion of the surface fleet if we just queue them up for build in Scottish yards. I bet some people in the MOD are now regretting letting Appledore go under.

        • Shipbuilding in Belfast and Appledore were specifically mentioned by BJ. This might be a reference to the FSS ships – which lets face it are urgently needed for an effective carrier task force – and / or frigate blocks for assembly in Rosyth where I think the facilities will enable simultaneous assembly of 2 frigates. Not sure fairness comes into it. Babcock have built the ‘frigate factory’ and it keeps the cost down. I think Cammell Laird will be busy refitting T45s and building the proposed ‘multi-role research vessel’, whatever that is. I don’t know of BAE can build more than 1 T26 at once on the Clyde.

          • HMS Scott is due for replacement. I assume one of the multi-role research vessels will fill that spot. Perhaps three ships will replace Scott and the Echo class, and will be larger than the Echos (5,000 tons) but smaller than Scott (13,500 tons).

    • STRN queried the Type 32 and apparently it’s a variant of Type 31, with potentially different weapons loadouts for export markets.

    • Hi Daniele, yes fully agree with that
      A bit confusing on the defence budget
      Can you experts advise please. The BBC and general media claim the UK Defence budget is currently £41BIL Having just checked the NATO budgets the UK is at £44.009BIl, I would put more faith in NATO’s figures, what do you say?
      But this is good news and I did not expect the announcement given the current issue with the pandemic.
      Just have to pace each step at a time.
      Cheers
      George

  5. Very welcome news after decades of cuts, cuts & more cuts. We’ll need to watch carefully it is delivered, but hopefully this marks the end of the long rot of UK defences & a better, sustainable & capable RN.
    Surprisingly widely welcomed on the BBC comments earlier. A lot more people do care about our forces than it felt for years. Even if the T32s are T31s with a proper weapons fit(Proper MG(5″), AshMs, larger amount of SAMs) they’ll be an excellent addition to the fleet. More investment to grow our tiny submarine fleeet will be very useful too.

    • Frank you are so right, people do care about defence. Politicians always go on about defence being unpopular but when we need it it is the most popular thing in the world. I think the Russian threat (Scripol, Ukraine, Syria, Arctic, ships in our waters, etc) has got to the point where most people want them to go do one. Putin is looking more and more like a threat as he clings to his retirement strategy.

    • Most ordinary voters do care about the country and its armed forces. They know that the cuts have gone too far. It is the hard left that is out of touch and incapable of understanding the people it claims to represent. Hence Corbyn’s dismal performance in the 2019 General Election!

    • I think they mean Tupe 31 batch 2. Babcock have invested a great deal of time and money in their Type 31 frogate factory, able to build 2 ships side by side. But the existing design is heavily underarmed and has no place in a carrier group. However, an upgraded version along the lines of the Danish version would…… First priority has to be the purchase and fitting of a decent anti-ship missile on existing hulls, and maybe long awaited addition of Mk41 vls to Type 45? Plus of course a far more rapid acquisition programme for F35B, and maybe look at MV22?

  7. Realistically –

    Our SSNs and SSBNs are substantially larger than the French equivalent
    Our carriers larger and we have two of them
    DDGs twice as many (propulsion issues not withstanding), and Sampson is superior
    RFA is much better
    Amphips are probably a tie – Bays and LPDs vs Mistrals
    The only area we’re arguably lacking is escort numbers, and that’s being addressed

    • The French definitely have a lot more patrol vessels but I’m not sure if they consider their border force as part of the navy. If we included our larger border force boats I think that would be around 9 OPV’s which where disappointingly ordered from abroad.

  8. Now divert money wasted on the Foreign Aid budget to build, in the UK, a couple of dual purpose hospital/relief ships that could also support military operations. And fund their future manning and operations with money from the FA budget.

  9. So much for the doomsayers that only a couple of weeks ago were forecasting massive cuts to defence and the Royal Navy in particular.

    • The predicted cuts included both carriers, the Dreadnought SSBNs and T26 capped at 3 ships I seem to remember. Somewhat ironic given that these were always the least likely to be cancelled!

      • These are people who either don’t have a clue what they’re talking about, trolls, or those with a grudge who want to see the UKs demise and fall. ( plenty of those, sadly)

        I myself thought T26 might end up at 6 and more T31 ordered in their stead. I hope I remain totally wrong!

  10. This is definitely great news!

    Hopefully these new Type 32s will be up-gunned, more capable versions of the Type 31 frigates. Say a 5″ gun, 24x Sea Ceptor and 8 anti ship missiles, as a minimum to make them a credible general-purpose escort ship capable of being an asset as part of a carrier group.

    Perhaps looking too far into the future but hopefully this budget boost, whilst happening over the next four years, isn’t a one-off and will continue after that. When it comes to the new Type 4X destroyer hopefully they will order at least 8-9 to boost the navy further.

    Fingers crossed there are a few more Merlin helicopters coming as well.

    • I don’t see that we need 8 or 9 T4X

      Large AA destroyers, effectively cruisers… 4 to support the carriers. Surely better to have something like the Hobart class to back them up…. is this the T32?

      An appropriate developed T31 (even if this is the T32) could be part of a carrier group.

      But this is the first mention of a T32 I’ve seen on pages like this.

      • Reducing to 4 would be a big mistake IMO. It would mean availability is drastically reduced. It would be a push to get 2 available to support a carrier. And if we lost one in combat we’re screwed.

        IMO we do need additional T4X destroyers to ensure at least 3 available to support the carrier in operations against a peer enemy and to be able to cope with any losses.

        I suppose we could keep it to 6 as long as the destroyers are used purely as air defence escorts and not for other roles, that these Type 32 frigates could undertake. Definitely not fewer than 6, however, as it leaves absolutely no room to cope with losses or accidents.

        • I suspect that provided BAES don’t get greedy, then T4X is likely to use the T26 platform and support at least 6x ships. It will be a proven platform for advanced AAW/BMD radar fit by the time its required.

          The Canadian Surface Combatant is already designed to address high end AAW and ASW as a ‘Super GP Frigate’, although a little light on VLS cells for AAW.

          The Australian Hunter class already has the radar fit for AAW so it wouldn’t surprise me to see T26 become their AAW solution long term, initially adding to and then replacing Hobart class for a larger AAW fleet capability.

          The T26 seems capable of physically fitting at least 48 MK41 VLS cells and potentially more forward the bridge (although clearly there is more to it than just physical space), plus retaining separate Sea Ceptor capability mid-ships. Overall, I could see the high end AAW and ASW capability merge into a single class to provide flexibility, rather than have distinct AAW focused and ASW focused platforms, since in practice these ships will be required to do it all anyway in a carrier/amphibious group.

          • Not only more at the bow, but if you are prepared to forgo the multi mission space for boat bays, then considerably more space becomes available.

      • I would like to see more of our surface ships equipped with TLAM. I think European navies avoided adding this in case it was seen as too aggressive, but Russian and Chinese ships launched over the last decade have been armed to teeth so I no longer see them as optional.

  11. Main problem is Boris is on his way out and its generally considered he will leave or be ousted early next year, so this money may never actually appear.

    • I keep hearing this nonsense, one would assume it’s origins started in yet another tired tirade of left wing vitriol from the Guardian…

    • Why is he on his way out?

      He’s not that popular at the moment but he still has the control and the confidence of Parliament. It’s when a Prime Minister consistently fails to pass legislation through Parliament that there are votes of no confidence. That’s not what is happening at the moment to Boris.

      Not to mention that with Dominic Cummings gone, Boris’ image might improve slightly.

      • Because the popularity of the party has been hit hard due to his terrible handling of covid and brexit, and politicians only care about one thing, and that is keeping the gravy train going.

        • I’ve certainly got no complaints about BJ, he has 68 million British people to look after, plus commonwealth and the rest of the world to help out.

          “Terrible handling of corvid”……..nonsense and as for BREXIT well in the new year we begin a new chapter in British history and NOW a boost in defence spending
          Glad Labour are not in charge ;P

          • Well said John, people will never be happy..

            Despite what the Guardian and sorry Labour party say, the Government has done it’s very best by the people of this wonderful country.

            The virus has spread simply because some people haven’t bloody behaved themselves, nothing the government can do about that, we don’t live in a country were the police can put the boot in if you don’t follow the rules, thank god!

            The Conservative Government has done it’s level best, paying people’s wages and bailing out businesses in a remarkable unprecedented way, I for one thank them for all their efforts.

            Imagine if Labour had been in charge, what a horror show that would have been!

          • John M & John C

            You don’t need to be a Guardian reader to recognise that the UK has significantly the highest number of deaths in Europe. We’ve been hearing a lot from Mister Johnson about British exceptionalism since 2016 – perhaps this is another (dreadful) example?

            I don’t share your complacency. Clearly, the handling of the first wave could have been better. And I don’t only include England & Wales in that observation, but the devolved administrations – particularly Scotland, despite Ms Sturgeon’s bluster.
            “The Conservative Government has done it’s level best, paying people’s wages and bailing out businesses in a remarkable unprecedented way” …… hmmm, in the circumstances, a government of any political hue would have implemented those kind of policies.

            Labour is the official UK Opposition – when it highlights inadequacies in the response by the government, the party is only doing its job.

            To sum-up: I don’t feel comfortable with aspects of the UK’s response to the virus, and I think you rather let our leaders (political and senior civil servants) too easily off the hook.

          • I appreciate your view point Alan and would agree to be honest, it doesn’t really matter who was in charge, the results would have been about the same…..

            That said, the blame for the spread in the UK can squarely be placed on the section of the population who have taken the piss all the way through.

            In the Far East deaths are low, because people have done as they are told.

            Not the Governments fault, if people aren’t clever enough to follow simple bloody instructions to mitigate risk (that for some reason they still cant grasp) Then Darwinian rules come into play, unfortunately, the price for their sheer stupidity is paid by their parents and grand parents…..

            “Stupid is as stupid does” “You can’t educate Pork”

            Perhaps just plain thick???

            Take your pick Alan…

        • They’ve made mistakes. Which western liberal democracy hasn’t?

          Lock down? HMG is ruining the economy! No lockdown, HMG is spreading covid and only care for the economy, not people’s lives!

          Testing? Oh, Germany tests so much more than us. Well yes, as we started with pretty much zero and ramping this up takes time, Germany already had extensive labs.

          They cannot win.

          Yes, screw ups with PPE, screw ups with school exams. Would be no different which party was in charge.

          I think you’ll find it is many of the UKs population who have handled Covid terribly, as at no point has BJ told them to go out dancing in the streets, massing in Soho and ignoring all social distancing.

          Which we are every day on tv, and in the papers.

          In fact, HMG have at no point told people to stop social distancing, even when lock down was eased.

          But the numpties all went off on their summer hols and it’s all HMG fault.

          Me and my wife have not taken a holiday, nor visited a pub or a restaurant since January. We avoid people in the street. Here at work I’m masked and gloved and many of my colleagues act like no covid exists. BJs fault? No. Theirs. Their behaviour.

          Terrible handling of Brexit? How should he have handled it? Ahhh, the version of Brexit remainers want where having left the UK then hamstrings itself giving in to all EU demands so we get a trade deal?

          So basically ignoring the EU trying to punish the UK for leaving and cutting off its nose to spite it’s own face. Where we could all sign a FT deal and move on. In all our interests.

          How do you think Canada and Japan would have reacted if the EU wanted access to their waters, limits on their companies, EU rules applied to them and primacy of ECHR for FT deal.

          They’d have told them where to go, and rightly.

          Truth is the EU don’t want a competitor on their doorstep and Parliament, much if the media and even much of the previous government spent years delaying, resisting and trying to stalemate the process.

          No wonder public are sick to death of it.

          There might yet be an outcome on trade talks, even if it means some concessions.

          Fine by me, as I want the talks to succeed.

          But that applies both ways.

          • Can’t argue with any of that, government’s will make mistakes, they’re all trying to feel their way through this and different countries will have to deal with it slightly differently.

            It boils my piss when folk flag up County A doing this or County B doing that. Same with pointing out the flaws in the UK policies like “well if I can go to the pub why can’t I go to the football”. We’re an incredibly spoilt and decadent bunch in The West, its great, I love that 99.9% of the time but its not a great starting point for doing what we’re supposed to in the current situation.

            Let the government do its thing (even if its a government you personally don’t like) and when all this is done and dusted the microscopes will be out looking for any big mistakes or shady dealings, THAT is the time to make all the judgements on what we did well or badly.

          • It was mate but It was for the good of this site. Now we can either choose to ignore a comment if we disagree or engage in debate rather than all that silly down voting.

    • As a Lifelong Scotsman, Persuaded by Life Experiences to Remain In My Native Country, It would seem that I Would Not Be Surprised if Boris “All Bluster and Doesn’t Come Up With “the Goods” Before His Ship Sails….”

  12. Not really surprised the easiest way to help industry and not open up the whole debate about subsidies is to invest in defence. Most countries recognise defence as a national interest and not open to international competition laws.

  14. Returning the capital cost of the new Trident submarines to pre 2010 arrangements would help with the apparent £31 billion equipment budget blackhole.

  16. “If there was one policy which strengthens the UK in every possible sense, it is building more ships for the Royal Navy.”

    Strengthen the Union, enhance relations with the US and EU navies, our technology and industrial base, create jobs, apply foreign policy goals, counter Russian ambitions in Sudan, Turkish ambitions in Libya and Cyprus, Chinese ambitions everywhere from Mozambique to the Philippines and Galapagos.

    Absolutely delighted with this news. Lights have come on. Well done Boris. Spot on comment from the PM. Infrastrata’s Belfast H&W and Appledore shipbuilding mentioned specifically. As was Cammell Laird. National Shipbuilding strategy becoming a reality. More frigates; likely T32s cranked out in Rosyth in parallel with T31s.

    Feels like xmas has come early 🙂

  18. The PMs # would only keep the status quo.
    Comparing the UK to Europe is not so great, since Europe has fallen in numbers also. I remember when people lamented the RN having only 40 destroyers/frigates.

    • Numbers aren’t the be all and end all though, take 1982, we had the numbers but not the equipment. I’m not trying to detract from the RN or Argentine forces but the UK was lucky in oh so many ways. A re-run today would be totally different though as the UK’s capability per ship is way beyond anything even remotely threatening. Even taking in any like for like development in Argentine Defence.

  19. How much of this ship building programme is aimed at shoring up our future trading relations with nations like Japan through technology transferers and arms sales?

  22. Good news maybe, but ‘we’ need to get these things built in a reasonable time. I know there are budget restaints and lead times, and of course recruitment, but as Soviet Admiral Nikolai Sergeyev, (I think), said some decades ago, “the next naval war will be fought by ships which hulls are already in the water.” or words to that effect.

  23. The government has now shown a little insight into how it sees the future direction of the armed forces with – Space Command and the National Cyber Force being the prime tools to defend our shores, along with the type 32 frigate that is earmarked to bolster the ranks of our surface fleet, bringing the hulls in the water to twenty-four ships. It certainly is a good step forward, but I can’t help feeling that manning may become more of an issue that will require the naval reserves to step up, and also that the other classes of naval ships will suffer, like the minesweepers and the Albion class LPD’s being reduced in some way to redirect crews to the rest of the fleet. The Lockheed Lightning F35B decision needs to be finalised, I feel ninety aircraft is the best option. Regarding the army, its looking very much like this defence review, when it finally is revealed in the spring, will be a painful experience for the service. Unless more consideration is placed on getting rid of the ageing equipment that is currently in service so that it brings the army kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
    I feel that the army needs to focus on providing fast moving brigades that can react without too much preparation, this will mean that tracked vehicles will become surplus to requirements so as to be able to modernise the combat arms with what is needed to move the army forward.  My thinking is moving towards four flexible combat brigades that will replace the five existing reaction brigades – (armoured infantry, strike and air-assault), and would be called expeditionary brigades – these would consist of:
    1x Armoured Cavalry Regiment – that will be equipped with Boxers instead of Ajax in the future
    1x Armoured Regiment – that will be equipped with Centauro B2 instead of Challenger 2’s
    1x Air-Assault Infantry Battalion – (forms a battlegroup)
    3x Mechanised Infantry Battalions – (forming 3x battlegroups that are equipped with Boxers)
    The brigades will be assigned to the 1st and 3rd UK Divisions – two in each and they would be supported by a mixed artillery brigade – (1x M777 Field Regt, 2x HIMARS Regts, 1x mixed Air-defence Regt and 1x Surveillance and Target Acquisition/Watchkeeper UAV Regt
    Logistic Brigade
    Signal Brigade
    Its so easy to consider alternative options, when thinking about future force concepts, that need to interact with future allies, like the US Marine Corp, Australia, Canada and New Zealand and NATO overall. Who knows what the future holds.   

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