The UK’s Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ship programme is under review following the takeover of Harland & Wolff by Navantia UK, with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirming that cost increases and timeline adjustments are still being assessed.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Mark Francois MP, Minister of State for Defence Maria Eagle stated that the first ship remains scheduled to enter service by 2031, but that the full impact of the shipyard ownership change is still being evaluated.
“On the current schedule, the first ship is expected to enter service by 2031 following extended first-of-class trials and equipment fits. However, extensive work is being undertaken to understand the full impact on the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme following the recent takeover of Harland & Wolff by Navantia UK.”
The FSS ships are crucial to supporting the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group, providing vital ammunition, food, and stores replenishment while at sea.
Cost Increases and Contract Adjustments
Maria Eagle confirmed that the MoD is working closely with Navantia UK to ensure continued delivery of the programme, but acknowledged that the contract has had to be renegotiated, with final details still to be settled.
“The Government has worked closely with Navantia UK on the future of the FSS programme and agreed with them the minimum changes to the contract necessary—on commercial terms—to ensure the programme’s continued delivery.”
She added that final cost changes are still under review, stating:
“The FSS team are working with Navantia UK to complete the detailed contract change, and it would be inappropriate to comment further due to commercial sensitivities.”
Impact on the Royal Navy’s Replenishment Capability
The delays and contract adjustments could have long-term implications for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), which currently operates the ageing Fort-class replenishment ship RFA Fort Victoria.
RFA Fort Victoria is currently the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s only dedicated solid stores ship. However, due to resource constraints, it has been deemed a lower priority and remains alongside. As a result, Fort Victoria will not deploy with the UK Carrier Strike Group this year, with a Norwegian vessel set to take its place in supporting the task force.
The takeover of H&W by Navantia will be used as an excuse for any delay when the true reason is the unrealistic ‘no change contract’ set up by DE&S, signing a contract with a back of a fag packet design and expecting the winning bidder to take responsibility for shortfalls in capability when those shortfalls won’t be truly known until long after Navantia have gone. Ben Wallace tried to cut costs as they’re just ‘Support Ships’ but they’re much more than that when deploying world wide. Very worrying.
Back of a fag packet design are you joking ? It’s a BMT design so pretty well top of the line, it’s part of the same family of Aegir support ships as the RFA Tides, HNoMS Maude both of which will be supporting CSG25 oh and they designed the QE class carriers as well.
Great
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Be surprised to see them ever being laid down,
Give it to roysth and if needed South Korea can make the hulls.
I actually liked the way we acquired the Tides, it still has the record for being the only MOD project to come in under budget and overall on time. But I think we are too far down the line for that idea, Navantia would sue the Arse of us.
And we do really need to get H&W back up and running for the MRSS and provide a realistic back up for the QE being Drydocked.
or could have simply bought the proven Italian Vulcano. The French Navy dis and seems quite happy
We need them to go ahead down here at Appledore, so many times the yard has been let down. Would be good to get the sections started as soon as possible.
Can’t we just get an Amazon Prime subscription?
How hard could it be to modify those vans for the sea?