The MoD has announced the award of Competitive Procurement Phase (CPP) contracts to bidders to enable them to develop their design and construction proposals for the £1.5Bn Fleet Solid Support ship project.More
RFA Wave Knight deployed to the Caribbean in May 2021, primarily to provide aid to overseas territories in the event of natural disasters. Following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Western Haiti on 14 August, she has now joined the US-led Task Force Bravo relief effort.More
The Defence Command Paper published in the wake of the March 2021 Integrated Review promised: “more than £50m will be spent converting a Bay class support ship to deliver a more agile and lethal littoral strike capability”. Here we take a speculative look at the options for the conversion.
Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace has formally re-launched the competition to build three new Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Here we analyse the limited detail that is public and the implications for industry and afloat support for the Royal Navy.
RFA Fort Victoria suffered a minor fire while alongside in Portland on the morning of the 10th May. It was extinguished by the crew with no serious injuries. This ship is the sole UK solid stores support ship available to replenish the carrier strike group.
The ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are a critical enabler for the Royal Navy, delivering logistic and operational support worldwide. Here we look at the status of the fleet and how it may be employed this year. More
In a carefully-worded statement, the MoD has confirmed the Fleet Solid Support ships will, at least predominantly, be built in the UK and the competition will be re-launched in the Spring of 2021.More
In May 2021 the UK Carrier Strike Group will set sail on its first operational deployment. Here we look at the programme for the next 10 months to prepare the many participants involved in this landmark for UK defence capability.
This week ‘Team Resolute’ went public. This is a new partnership between Spanish shipbuilder, Navantia, Belfast shipyard, Harland & Wolff and naval architects, BMT to bid for the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ship contract. Here we consider this partnership and summarise the story of FSS so far.