A new explainer published by the Council on Geostrategy urges Britain to increase its warship production in response to escalating global security challenges.
Authored by Dr Emma Salisbury, a Sea Power Research Fellow, the report highlights the critical need for the Royal Navy to enhance its capacity, mass, and firepower to safeguard the UK’s interests at home and abroad.
According to the report, Britain’s shipbuilding industry—historically strong—now faces challenges due to years of underinvestment and a shrinking industrial base. To meet future demands, the report argues that His Majesty’s Government must take decisive steps to ensure the shipbuilding industry is equipped to meet these growing challenges.
The report stresses the importance of strategic advantage in naval shipbuilding, a concept introduced in the 2021 Integrated Review and expanded in the 2023 Integrated Review Refresh. The UK is encouraged to leverage national strengths through innovation, coordination, and strategic partnerships.
“In this environment, the UK must be capable of securing its interests against determined opposition, which is often backed by superior material power,” the report states, urging the government to use catalysts to strengthen its shipbuilding sector and improve efficiency.
The report identifies key challenges, including budgetary constraints, workforce shortages, and maintaining long-term defence programmes. “Without a steady supply of skilled workers, the UK’s ability to produce complex warships at the necessary pace could be severely hindered,” the report warns.
The paper recommends increased government coordination and funding, as well as stronger partnerships with allied nations to enhance collaboration and technological exchange. It also calls for empowering the National Shipbuilding Office (NSO) to provide greater oversight and support for the industry.
“An empowered NSO could play a pivotal role in driving exports, addressing workforce shortages, and promoting British warships in global markets,” the report notes.
The report highlights the urgent need for Britain to revitalise its shipbuilding industry to ensure national security. “Empowering warship production is vital for British national security because it ensures that the Royal Navy remains capable of defending the nation’s maritime interests and responding to emerging global threats,” the report concludes.
For those interested in the future of British naval power, the full report offers a detailed roadmap and can be accessed here.
I like the way this report highlights the need for mass and capability in the RN and that these are dependent on a strong industrial base with a well trained and experienced workforce.
Hopefully, this report will have some influence on the defence review although I fear the politicians will focus on the cost of everything and the value of nothing – as usual…
Cheers CR
Actually the cost per RN warship is actually very low. T26 at ~£850m is actually quite cheap for what it is. Look at the cost of CAN or AUS T26 variants – massively more than the RN versions. Look at the Constellation Class project in USA… Look at how cheap T31 is. Really you an’t make them much cheaper than that at the specs we need to do the job they need to do. The really issue is the low pay for RFA and RN people. I would have been happy for the largess to the overpaid train drivers to… Read more »
HI SB, Agree that the costs of RN ships are pretty impressive compared similar programs across NATO, but I don’t think that it will register with a state so dominated by the Treasury. I hope I am wrong. The one glimmer of hope is that with Babcock and BAE Systems competing for RN contracts the costs can be kept sensible making building up the RN a good way to help with leveling up, which might be dropped as a slogan, but is still a Labour issue if they want a second term. On pay I am encouraged; didn’t the military… Read more »
The problem is getting the follow on batch contracted for in the same unbreakable model so that it isn’t just an empty promise that is forgotten at the next round of musical chairs.
I believe Norway are asking for at least 5 of what ever they purchase , so there is an opportunity for UK industry and govt staring us in the face to build at least five more T26 . We know Northern Ireland has a ship yard in need of work . I’m no expert but where there is a will there is always a way , and I cannot see any reason that uk cannot increase production of T26 to cover UK requirements and say Norway . Let’s face it the UK could do with a few more T26 as… Read more »
If (and it’s a big if) Norway decides to proceed with a T26 order without running a full competition (and there are plenty of contenders other than the T26), they want to buy HMS Belfast to ensure the first ship is in service by 2029. It seems that the MOD agreeing (or not) to this in the next few months will make or break the deal. However, Belfast is very badly needed, and there is no guarantee that the RN would get a replacement. The current defence review might well recommend selling Belfast, but also decide that the c.£1 billion… Read more »
Why would train operating companies pay military salaries? You’ve fallen for the Tory rage baiting regarding rail companies. Private operators paid dividends to shareholders rather than invest in the railways. They claimed the franchise wasn’t profitable, despite paying out to shareholders, The tories created the rail delivery group (16 companies franchises iirc) they then started to close ticket offices, make guards and other staff redundant and lumped it all in as one dispute. When the unions tried to negotiate, the transport secretary refused. After 3 years of no settlement, the Liebour government, supported by the rail unions, went to the… Read more »
I’ve not fallen for anything.
Even at present rates of pay there are 10x the number of drivers applying as leaving. There is no need to advertise. There is no need for massive pay rises. In a lot of cases the job isn’t necessary, as on most of the underground, as the train could be fully automated. Spare me the safety argument as loads of cities manage to operate driverless trains perfectly safely.
On the other hand RFA doesn’t have enough applicants and leavers exceed joiners by a wide margin and churn is terrible.
Large parts of the network still use victorian semaphore signalling so it’ll be decades before there’s any chance of driverless trains. Yes there are 10x more applicants but there are still massive shortages because companies would rather poach a qualified driver by offering better pay and conditions than pay to train a new start. That’s what lead to the shortage of drivers and inflated salaries. I agree that drivers are very well paid. I am a freight driver. I also agree that our military, RFA, NHS nurses and many public sector staff are under paid but that is from central… Read more »
And if they’re “cheap as [s]hips” why can’t they plan to buy a few more right now? Seize the opportunity. Didn’t Mr Healey say something about being the “premier European defence force of NATO”? Big statement and just a tad boastful .
Absolutely agree, unfortunately, those in authority w/in HMG (specifically HMT) evidently consistently fail to recognize an absolute bargain. A FFP contract for an additional batch of 4-5 T-26, a probable increase in SSN-A numbers over the Astute class, and the acquisition of several more MPA by the RAF would allow UK to become the preeminent ASW force in ENATO, for relativelyurrlw coin of the realm.
…little…🙄
And there is a good place to work with USN with a great sub hunting force and a the ability to work with USMC on QEC as well as having swing roles with T45.
These are all top end capabilities that are intentional reflected by some and feared by others.
Yes, it is just possible that the Allies will be prepared for PLAN (in conjunction w/ the Orcs) forays into the Atlantic theater from the early-to-mid 2030s. 🤞🤞
I think most people with even half an eye on RN strength & capabilities have been saying the exact same thing for years. More Astute class SSN, more Type 45 destroyers & more Type 26 & 31 frigates. Speed up the development of the Aukus SSN, Type 32 frigate & Type 83 Destroyer. Pay matelots better & drastically improve their conditions of service. If you want a decent navy that can go toe to toe with peer adversaries, you have to be willing to pay for it.
Why do we need more specialist sub hunters if Norway is joining the T26 party?
Really we need more large flexible GP frigates which have flexible crewing and a VLS, excellent defences and maybe some lesser ASW capability. The do-everything-class-frigate is also the unaffordable-class-frigate which is the never-get-ordered-class-frigate.
It will be very hard to build the T26’s we have on order and the ones Norway wants before T83 needs to start build.
Never mind the H&W mess that still needs to be resolved to get some solids stores ships built by yesterday.
With a bit of luck Babcock will get their hands on H&W and the FSS ships can get built, although I am worried that the debt with that US specialist lender will get dumped onto whoever gets the yard and the loan smells of a subprime kind of loan. I read somewhere that the original plan for the BAE frigate factory was for it to be built at Scotstoun. So I would like to see that factory being built and for the T26 to continue in production as is, with the new factory being used for the T83. Won’t happen… Read more »
You think 8 ASW platforms is sufficient to cover home waters, the Baltics & any future global deployments? It isn’t sufficient, all 8 platforms will not be available at all times. Say two are down for refit, 3 are on globals, two are on OST, BOST & FOST, that leaves you 1 platform for home waters. It isn’t enough.
Then T26 aren’t sent in global except with CSG and the globetrotters are the T31’s.
Everybody gets sent on globals, we don’t have enough platforms to cover the amount of “Fly the flag” globals to restrict to the extent a Type 26 or two doesn’t get a global.
Perhaps Babcock will purchase H&W assets out of bankruptcy (administration) and assume that role in the current FSS program(me)?
Anyone with half a brain cell can tell the RN is too small and not fit for purpose.
But its an issue of sufficient personnel, as well as sufficient hulls in the water…
I still can’t get my head around the fact that, with at least 6 very large ships likely to get added to the build schedule soon and maybe even 9 (3 FSS + a minimum I hope of 3 MRSS and perhaps the previously talked about 6), it looks as if the government was not willing to do enough to stop Harland & Wolff going into administration. Surely with so many big ship builds on the horizon the stars should be aligned to allow H&W to not only survive but to prosper?
👌👍🕳️🙃Btth
Agree-especially regarding H&W which is near to my heart.
Yes, good comment! H&W should be a considered a goer and be supported or purchased – what about even being nationalised as an interim?
Starmer and Reeves are talking up industrial strategy and investment. One has to hope that means defence spending – not least as it generates high value jobs away from the South East – will therefore be taken seriously. Perhaps they will reclassify capital expenditure and fudge the rules…
…I have said it a couple of times, the value for money for the MODs spend on Cyber needs a hard long look. How that has a higher capital expenditure then Ships or combat air is just beyond me…..
Building new ships is one thing, having the facilities to maintain them and get them back to sea promptly is another, it appears to be a bit of a bottleneck getting RN ships through maintenance.
Also, the Recruitment/retention problems need addressing.
Pay and conditions need to be properly addressed. One of the things that could help in the RN and help with down time. Bring back the AMG gives guys more shoretime and family life. With the bonus of ships getting a quicker turnaround. In the late seventies I was on a ship which had the main switchboard go down. Step forward the AMG over four days they cut a hole in the ships side. One out One in. Welded up the side. Two coats of paint and back to sea. The AMG got axed to save money in the push… Read more »