Recommendation 45

Some parts of this pipeline have since been confirmed, such as the confirmation that the second batch of Type 26 frigates would be built by BAE at Govan (considered in more detail later in this chapter).73 However, the pipeline is also subject to change. The Refresh explains that The NSO will oversee this pipeline, working with Departments to manage this against UK industrial capacity. As the pipeline spans a 30 year period, it is subject to change and will be agreed through future Spending Reviews. The NSO will update this pipeline at each multi-year Spending Review, however we will be reliant upon industry delivering programmes to cost and time so that we can minimise changes to the pipeline and provide greater certainty.74 Some changes to the pipeline have already been seen, such as the decision to cancel the National Flagship, and consequent acceleration of the Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ship (MROSS) procurement, in November 2022.75 In January it was reported that the UK Government had purchased a civilian vessel, the MV Topaz Tangaroa, for conversion into the first MROSS at Cammell Laird on Merseyside. This means the first MROSS will not form part of the shipbuilding pipeline for Scotland. The MOD plans to order a second MROSS, to be built from scratch; the site of this work is currently not known.76