General Naval Topics

[Pelican]

Royal Navy escort fleet to ‘return above 19’ warships by 2026

The Royal Navy fleet will grow to more than 19 frigates and destroyers by 2026, aiming for 24 escort vessels by 2030. It currently has 18.

In written evidence submitted by Admiral Tony Radakin to the Defence Select Commitee the former First Sea Lord said:

“Hull numbers will dip to 17 by the end of 2023”, later adding “alongside making best use of the force we have, driving up relative availability, we remain committed to growing the escort force and further increasing the absolute number of days available for operations we provide to the nation. We anticipate returning above 19 FFDD by the end of 2026 as new ships are brought into service.

Continues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-n ... Y3ZbktNyGI

[Pelican]

British Air Force chief envisions synthetic fuel produced on deployments

Britain’s Air Force chief has outlined a future where synthetic aircraft fuel could be produced on forward air bases and warships, in a speech on the service’s ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.
Adopting eco-friendly jet fuel is the key element in the Royal Air Force achieving its green targets, but Air Marshal Sir Mike Wigston also pointed to potentially significant operational gains from development of the technology in a Nov. 24 speech to the Freeman Air and Space Institute here.

Continues at - https://www.defensenews.com/global/euro ... Qgm8Jvsi9o

[Pelican]

OUT WITH THE OLD IN WITH THE NEW

BRNC picket boats finally bow out of service and are replaced by new ATLAS AEUK Officer Training Boats (OTB).
See - https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 8522144769

[Pelican]

Seaboats without sailors – Royal Navy autonomous RIB development

During trials off Plymouth in mid-October, BAE Systems’ autonomous RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) was successfully controlled from the operations room of HMS Argyll. Here we look in detail at the development of this system.

See - https://www.navylookout.com/seaboats-wi ... rLs4I30P-o

[Pelican]

Royal Navy outline plans for autonomous mine-hunting systems


The Ministry of Defence have outlined the Royal Navy’s autonomous mine-hunting capability programme.

The new systems could be operated from the shore or from any suitable Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary or commercial vessel.
In a submission to the Defence Committee, the Ministry of Defence state the following:

“The MHC programme is at the forefront of future maritime autonomous systems and is being developed in two blocks. MHC Block 1 consists of three operational demonstrator systems, including the UK and French collaborative Maritime Mine Countermeasures (MCM) programme, and is aligned with the Sandown class drawdown between 2021-2025.

MHC Block 1 will deliver a total of three Mission Systems. Two will operate in the UK at Her Majesty’s Naval Bases Clyde and Portsmouth, and one in the Gulf. A Mission System consists of:

a Portable Operation Centre;
an Autonomous Surface Vessel;
towed sonar;
Mine Neutralisation System;
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, and;
an autonomous mine sweeping system.

Continues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-n ... ucr9fR1vrg

[Pelican]

Adm Tony Radakin

Gave his first speech as Chief of the Defence Staff yesterday.
Positive stuff - emphasis on clear priorities and a refreshing lack of buzzwords.

See - https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/ ... -institute

[Pelican]

Britain to deploy two aircraft carriers in one strike group next year


British aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will deploy together next year, leading a massive Carrier Strike Group deployment.

The Ministry of Defence tweeted that the UK Carrier Strike Group will again be deployed in 2022 “with HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth deploying with our NATO and international partners”.

Source UKDJ

[Pelican]

Ministry of Defence to buy up to 61 new intercept vessels


The Ministry of Defence is looking for up to 61 ‘Intercept & Escort Craft’ to respond to incidents and board other vessels.
A contract notice has been published specifying a firm requirement 36 ‘Intercept & Escort Craft’ craft and an option for an additional 25 craft over a 6 year period. The vessels will replace a wide variety of existing types already in service. It’s important to note the following in order to stop the inevitable comments, this has nothing to do with immigration or what’s happening in the English Channel.

“The aim of this project is to replace extant craft variants. This project will align to the Boats strategy of reducing the number of variants currently being operated whilst at the same time upgrading the user’s current capability.”

The specifications for the craft, as listed in the contract notice, are outlined below:
At - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/ministr ... 5QyQBJHBkY

[Pelican]

“We’re going to need a bigger Navy”

The Defence Committee publishes its report “We’re going to need a bigger Navy” following the Committee’s inquiry into The Navy: purpose and procurement.

See - https://committees.parliament.uk/commit ... gger-navy/

Link from Tim.

[Pelican]

“We’re going to need a bigger Navy”

The Defence Committee publishes its report “We’re going to need a bigger Navy” following the Committee’s inquiry into The Navy: purpose and procurement.

See - https://committees.parliament.uk/commit ... gger-navy/

Link from Tim.

Also - https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/c ... eport.html