Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Paragraph: 126
We welcome the Secretary of State’s focus on improving vessel availability as it is crucial...
Conclusion
We welcome the Secretary of State’s focus on improving vessel availability as it is crucial for the effective operation of the fleet. We recognise that the Navy has already taken measures to address it but are concerned that any improvements come from increased use of low-end warships, rather than improvements in the availability of Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers. The availability of these vessels will be particularly important in the next decade to ensure the Navy’s ambitious plans for the fleet can be delivered without capability gaps. However, availability issues are unlikely to improve significantly, and could potentially deteriorate further, until new frigates are introduced, and the Type 45 Power Improvement Project (PIP) is complete. It is only prudent for the Navy, when it is setting strategic and operational goals over the period, to take a more realistically pessimistic view of UK capabilities than is currently the case.
Paragraph Reference:
126
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Response: Improving availability is one of the RN’s highest priorities. Initiatives are in train to improve the availability of surface ships and submarines. 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. Through the PIP and the Equipment Improvement Plan (EIP), Type 45 availability will improve from 2023, and then again in 2025. Over this period the RN will continue to meet Defence’s highest priority outputs; two Type 45s will be available to support the annual CSG deployments. We are also optimising the Frigate Transition Plan to ensure that the availability of both General Purpose and Anti- Submarine Warfare Frigates is maintained. The RN is tasked in accordance with strategic priorities which take into consideration the availability of platforms.