Recommendation 24

In the meantime, the intensive use of existing equipment is contributing to a maintenance backlog that will take more time and money to address, leaving the UK’s Armed Forces having to make do with fewer pieces of ageing equipment nearing the end of their in-service lives.75 For example, there is uncertainty about whether two Type 23 frigates that have recently gone into refit will return to active service.76 If they do not, this 65 Q 111 66 C&AG’s Report, para 2.12, 2.13 67 Q 127 68 C&AG’s Report, para 2.13 69 Q 108 70 Q 112; C&AG’s Report, para 2.5 71 Qq 108, 112 72 Q 42 73 Defence Procurement Minister oral statement on the Integrated Procurement Model – 28 February 2024 – GOV. UK (www.gov.uk) 74 Qq 33, 34, 84 75 Qq 46, 114 76 Q 35 MoD Equipment Plan 2023–2033 15 would further curtail the Royal Navy’s already limited capacity to provide escorts.77 The Type 23 class is coming to the end of its in-service life, and the cost of refitting them has increased from £23 million to £100 million because their age means that the necessary work is now much more extensive and takes almost twice as long to complete.78 Reliance on allies