Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Paragraph: 116
We support the Navy’s plans to retain a sovereign core capability but are concerned that...
Conclusion
We support the Navy’s plans to retain a sovereign core capability but are concerned that it cannot currently deliver all the elements required to defend and support the task group. As a result, the Department must take early action on the availability of attack submarines and destroyers, and the lack of Fleet Solid Support shipping. If action is not taken to address this within the next year, we will begin to request updates on progress twice a year. The Department should explore whether there is an option of upgrading the Type 45 destroyer to deliver ballistic missile defence and what the costs and timelines involved are and provide us with updates on the exploratory work.
Paragraph Reference:
116
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
. Response: One of the Secretary of State’s top priorities for the First Sea Lord (1SL) is continuing to improve the availability of ships and submarines. Numerous projects are underway to achieve this. These projects aim to reduce the length of time that ships and submarines spend in refit and increase the time that they are available for tasking. Type 45 Destroyer availability will improve from 2023, and then again in 2025, when the majority of the ships will have completed the Power Improvement Programme (PIP).1 Throughout this period, the RN will continue to meet Defence’s highest priority outputs and two Type 1 By the end of 2024 four of six Type 45 will have completed PIP. A fifth conducts PIP in 2025, remaining in refit until early 2027, whilst the sixth starting PIP in 2026, finishing its refit in 2028. 45 Destroyers will be available to support annual CSG deployments. As newer ships are brought into service, they will require shorter refit periods than the older platforms they replace, further improving availability. It is UK policy that we do not comment on matters relating to submarine availability as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness, or security of our Armed Forces. The UK’s attack and nuclear deterrent submarines continue to meet their operational tasking, deploying globally on operations and protecting our national interests. The FSS programme is progressing in accordance with established acquisition processes and is on track to receive final manufacture tenders in July 2022. The Contract Notice requires all three ships to be in service by 2032, and we will manage the transition between FORT VICTORIA and the first FSS ship to ensure that the Carrier Strike Group retains a sovereign core and ability to operate independently. As set out in the Defence Command Paper, we committed to upgrading the Sea Viper air defence missile system for the Type 45 by late 2020s to provide a Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) capability for the RN and wider Defence. Sea Viper Evolution (SVE) will deliver the capability that will protect maritime units from a range of Ballistic Missile threats by the late 2020s. The Integrated Review funded SVE Capability 1, upgrading the RN’s missiles to the ASTER Block 1 standard. The RN will also conduct an Assessment Phase of SVE Capability 2, to further enhance this capability and cover a greater range of threats, utilising the ASTER Block 1 “New Technology” missile. This investment forms part of the strategic intent for the UK to have a maritime BMD capability and will deliver the first European warship capable of an organic “sensor to shooter” BMD intercept. Further concepts for BMD will be considered and refined, including a counter-hypersonics capability, as we develop and procure the Future Air Defence System as the replacement for the Type 45 Destroyers.