The Strategic Outline Case for the Strategic Sealift Future programme, which will decide how Britain replaces the ships that move the Army’s heavy equipment, is intended to be completed before the end of this financial year, according to an answer given in Parliament.
Ben Obese-Jecty, the Conservative member for Huntingdon, had asked whether the case had been completed.
Luke Pollard, the Minister of State for Defence, said: “The Strategic Outline Case for the Strategic Sealift – Future programme is intended to be completed this financial year.”
A Strategic Outline Case is the first of the Treasury’s five case stages and sets out the need and the range of options before any procurement decision is taken. Ministers confirmed earlier this month that all four Point class roll-on roll-off sealift ships will receive extensive refits, work that keeps the existing capability available while the replacement programme is developed.
The Point class carry armoured vehicles, artillery and stores for deployments and exercises, and the fleet underpins Britain’s ability to move a division sized force by sea. The ships were built in Germany and South Korea and entered service from 2002 under a private finance arrangement, with the Ministry of Defence later buying the hulls outright.
