Navy facing fleet shortfall by 2026

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Over a dozen naval support ships are due to be taken out of service by 2026 despite no immediate replacement plan being in place.

MoD statistics show that eight Hunt Class mine countermeasure vessels and eight Sandown class vessels are to be retired by 2026. The first ships are set to begin being taken out of service in 2017, a mere eight years from now.

MoD officials have refused to comment on a future capability saying that a decision would be made in the years to come.

"Our future requirements for maritime mine detection and clearance are under consideration and our capabilities will be developed over the coming years in order to best meet those requirements," minister for defence equipment and support Quentin Davies told MPs in a written answer.

Concerns have already arisen over a drop off in naval capabilities since procurement in this area has been notoriously slow over the last decade. The aircraft carriers, Astute Class submarines and Type 45 destroyers when finished and delivered will all have taken over a decade from concept to finished product.

While mine countermeasure vessels are smaller and would therefore take less time to build and test, the current forecasts for a replacement in service by the time the bulk of the older ships are taken out of service in 2020 is not optimistic.

Davies has already told Parliament that other shipbuilding projects will be delayed or slowed down in order to prioritise the aircraft carrier work. Since the delivery of the second carrier is not expected before 2018, this is the earliest date in which counter measure vessel construction could begin.

In addition, the construction of the Future Surface Combatant, which will serve as a replacement for the Type 22 and Type 23 frigates is also expected to begin around 2018.

The Navy may be hard pressed to reinforce the mine clearance fleet by 2026.