Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 29
29
The Type 32 frigate programme presents an opportunity to start thinking about how to design...
Conclusion
The Type 32 frigate programme presents an opportunity to start thinking about how to design vessels for the future. We support the Navy’s proposal for a programme that delivers a less exquisite vessel and increases hull numbers for presence operations in relatively permissive environments and lower-level conflict. We strongly recommend that the Navy look carefully at the possibility of emulating other navies’ successes with heavily armed light frigates/corvettes, and consider delivering a similar vessel that will be fitted with an effective missile capability from the start. This should be included in any consideration of using common missile silos across vessel classes. (Paragraph 199) “We’re going to need a bigger Navy” 79 Comparison of national fleets Table 5: Comparison of UK, Allies and Adversaries’ Fleets United United States France Rest of NATO China Russia India Japan Kingdom Submarines Strategic Nuclear Powered 4 14 4 0 6 11 1 0 Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) Ballistic Missile 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Submarine (SSB) Tactical Nuclear Powered 0 51 0 0 0 8 0 0 Attack Submarine with dedicated launch tubes for Guided Missiles (SSGN) Nuclear Power 6 3 4 0 6 10 1 0 Attack Submarine (SSN) Attack Submarine 0 0 0 58 46 20 14 22 (SSK) 80 “We’re going to need a bigger Navy” United United States France Rest of NATO China Russia India Japan Kingdom Principal Aircraft Carriers Nuclear Powered 0 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 Surface Aircraft Carrier Combatants (CVN) Aircraft Carrier 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 4 (CV/CVH) VSTOL Aircraft 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 Carrier (CVS) Cruisers 0 24 0 0 3 4 0 3 Destroyers 6 68 2 19 36 11 10 38 Frigates 12 21 18 90 46 16 17 6 Patrol Corvettes 0 0 6 23 72 42 8 0 Combatants Patrol Ships 8 0 4 56 87 3 10 0 Amphibious Principal Amphibious 0 7 3 4 1 0 0 3 Vessels Amphibious Ships Assault Ship (LHD) Assault Landing 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ship (LHA) Landing Platform 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Helicopter (LPH) Landing Platform 5 22 0 4 7 0 1 0 Dock/Landing Ship Dock (LPD/LSD) “We’re going to need a big
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Response: The Department welcomes the Committee’s observations and recognises the opportunities inherent with the use of common missile silos, launchers and weapon systems across multiple vessel classes of varying sizes. We are seeking to increase the number of ships fitted with Mk 41 launchers beyond the Type 26, including Type 31 and potential retrofit to existing classes, to provide commonality with partner nations, improve interoperability and simplify the inventory of maritime offensive capabilities. Finally, concept and assessment phases for the Type 32 frigate and Future Air Defence System have commenced, or are about to commence, and this too will examine the benefits of a common launcher.