The UK government is set to assess the future of the Royal Navy’s anti-ballistic missile and aircraft carrier capabilities as part of its upcoming Strategic Defence Review.
These capabilities are seen as crucial for protecting the UK’s interests globally, with the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) recent response reflecting the importance placed on maritime power in safeguarding national security and economic stability.
In response to questions from Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell on 23rd October 2024, Luke Pollard, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the MOD, highlighted the Royal Navy’s key role. He pointed to the recent mission in the Red Sea to protect international shipping from Houthi missile attacks as an example of how maritime power remains vital to UK security and the wider global economy.
He stated, “Ballistic missile and aircraft carrier capabilities are important to Defence. The importance of maritime power more broadly has been highlighted by the recent Royal Navy response to protect international shipping – vital to our way of life and economic security – from Houthi missile attacks in the Red Sea.”
Pollard’s response underlines the significant role the Royal Navy plays in protecting trade routes and maintaining economic security. Maritime power continues to be viewed as essential not only for defence but also for ensuring the UK’s influence and presence in international affairs.
However, Pollard stressed that the final outcomes will be shaped by the Strategic Defence Review, noting, “It is only right that we do not pre-determine what may happen in the review.”
The review is expected to provide a comprehensive assessment of the UK’s defence priorities and offer recommendations on the roles and capabilities the Royal Navy needs to address evolving threats and challenges.
More Jets (138+(!)) and Sea Ceptor to be fitted to both carriers would be a start.
(Waits for nuggets to suggest F-35A variant for the Light Blue).
Sea Ceptor on the carrier is a great idea. However 138 F35B’s seems like over kill. A force of 80+ should be able to equip four squadrons and if we get our fingers out on drones then four squadrons is plenty.
The planned purchase of 138 is in multiple batches over several decades. It does not imply that 138 would be available at any given point in time.
Equipping our F-35s with some form of anti-ship missile like the JSM or LRASM would give the carriers a big punch and would be a priority for me, it’s quite surprising really, considering we were on the receiving end of them in the Falklands war and they inflicted significant damage to us, to my knowledge we don’t actually have any form of fixed-wing maritime strike weapon which is pretty shocking and big capability gap.
I wonder if project Ark Royal will feature in these discussions.Or has that already been put on the back burner.
They could start by changing one of the carriers to Cats and Traps to allow Vixen to land and may be get a good EARLY WARNING AIRCRAFT on board get rid of Crownest and have a fixed wing aircraft we could even look at Rafale fighters landing Even the Turks have considered a The carrier will be armed with a 32-cell MIDLAS VLS (Vertical Launching System), and four Gökdeniz Close-in Weapon systems for self-defence.We could even put RIM-162 ESSM on the stern and Bow
One carrier to be moth-balled.