Fleet Solid Support Ship Programme

{{Short description|Royal Fleet Auxiliary contract}}

{{Infobox ship |infobox_caption=Fleet Solid Support Ship |section1={{Infobox ship/class overview |name= |builders=*Harland and Wolff, Navantia<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.navylookout.com/in-focus-the-fleet-solid-support-ship-design/ |title=In focus: the Fleet Solid Support ship design |publisher=Navy Lookout |date=28 February 2023 |access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref>, Belfast, United Kingdom |operators= {{naval|United Kingdom|RFA}} |class_before={{sclass|Fort Rosalie|replenishment ship|4}}, {{sclass|Fort Victoria|replenishment oiler|4}} |class_after= |subclasses= |cost= |built_range=2025 to 2032 (projected) |in_service_range= From 2031 (projected) |in_commission_range= |total_ships_building= |total_ships_planned=3 |total_ships_completed= |total_ships_canceled= |total_ships_active= |total_ships_laid_up= |total_ships_lost= |total_ships_retired= |total_ships_preserved= |total_ships_scrapped= }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class= Replenishment oiler |displacement= {{convert|39,000|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} full load<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.navylookout.com/in-focus-the-fleet-solid-support-ship-design/ |title=In focus: the Fleet Solid Support ship design |publisher=Navy Lookout |date=28 February 2023 |access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref> |length= {{convert|216|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |beam= {{convert|34.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |draught= |propulsion= CODELOD (Combined Diesel Electric or Diesel) arrangement, 2 shafts |speed= {{convert|19|kn|lk=in}} |range= |complement=101 RFA, plus space for 57 to 78 additional RN or other personnel |boats= Port side boat bay to allow embarkation of Special Forces RIBs<ref>{{cite news |title=Refining the Fleet Solid Support ship design |url=https://www.navylookout.com/refining-the-fleet-solid-support-ship-design/ |access-date=28 September 2023 |work=NavyLookout |date=28 September 2023}}</ref> |capacity= {{convert|9000|m2|sqft}} of cargo space; up to 25 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent) containers on upper deck; capacity for Role 2 maritime hospital<ref>{{cite news |title=Refining the Fleet Solid Support ship design |url=https://www.navylookout.com/refining-the-fleet-solid-support-ship-design/ |access-date=28 September 2023 |work=NavyLookout |date=28 September 2023}}</ref> |sensors=*Air search radar *Navigation radar *Helicopter control radar |EW=*Electronic warfare systems *Soft-kill decoy launchers |armament= *2 × 20&nbsp;mm Phalanx CIWS *2 × 30&nbsp;mm |armour= |aircraft=Capacity for 2 × Merlin helicopters (or equivalent) plus at least one UAV<ref>{{cite news |title=Refining the Fleet Solid Support ship design |url=https://www.navylookout.com/refining-the-fleet-solid-support-ship-design/ |access-date=28 September 2023 |work=NavyLookout |date=28 September 2023}}</ref> |aircraft_facilities=Twin hangar, Chinook-capable flight deck<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.navylookout.com/in-focus-the-fleet-solid-support-ship-design/ |title=In focus: the Fleet Solid Support ship design |publisher=Navy Lookout |date=28 February 2023 |access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref> |notes= }} }}

The '''Fleet Solid Support Ship Programme''' (FSSP)<ref>{{cite web |title=APPOINTMENT AS SENIOR RESPONSIBLE OWNER FOR THE FLEET SOLID SUPPORT PROGRAMME (FSSP) |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/782102/20190225-LoA_FSSP_SRO_-_RAdm_Paul_Marshall_.pdf |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=27 November 2022}}</ref> aims to deliver up to three fleet solid support ships to the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The ships will be used to provide underway replenishment of dry stores, such as ammunition, spare parts and supplies, to ships of the Royal Navy. They will regularly deploy with the UK Carrier Strike Group, providing crucial supplies to the {{sclass|Queen Elizabeth|aircraft carrier}}s and their escorts. All three ships had been scheduled to enter service between 2028 and 2032.<ref name="gov1">{{cite news |title=1,200 new UK jobs pledged as naval shipbuilding anticipates return to Belfast |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/1200-new-uk-jobs-pledged-as-naval-shipbuilding-set-to-return-to-belfast |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=GOV.UK |date=16 November 2022}}</ref> However, subsequently the Ministry of Defence indicated that the first ship would in fact not be operational until 2031.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2023-06-13.HL8463.h&s=Fleet+Solid+Support|title=Fleet Solid Support Ships: Procurement Ministry of Defence written question – answered on 27 June 2023 |website=They Work for you |date=27 June 2023}}</ref>

The ships were first proposed by the British government in 2015 as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. In the subsequent National Shipbuilding Strategy, the government outlined its intentions to tender the ships internationally to encourage competitiveness with British shipyards. This was criticised by some political parties and trade unions as being a potential loss of British shipbuilding jobs and skills. Following a competition, which began in 2018, Team Resolute was awarded a contract for the three vessels; BMT Group will provide the design, whilst Harland & Wolff and Navantia UK will construct them.

In December 2025, it was announced during the steel-cutting ceremony for the first of the three ships that the first ship would be named RFA ''Resurgent''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allison |first=George |date=2025-12-03 |title=UK cuts steel on new support ship as RFA Resurgent is named |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-cuts-steel-on-new-support-ship-as-rfa-resurgent-is-named/ |access-date=2025-12-03 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Background== thumb|Fleet solid support ship {{RFAux|Fort Victoria}} alongside aircraft carrier {{HMS|Queen Elizabeth|R08|6}} in 2020. In November 2015, the British government published the Strategic Defence and Security Review which outlined a commitment to three new solid support ships by 2025.<ref name="SDSR15">{{cite web |title=National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-security-strategy-and-strategic-defence-and-security-review-2015 |website=GOV.UK |access-date=22 November 2022}}</ref> The ships are replacements for the RFA's {{sclass|Fort Victoria|replenishment oiler|0}} and {{sclass|Fort Rosalie|replenishment ship|0}} fleet solid support ships which had grown increasingly obsolete; one ship, RFA ''Fort Victoria'', underwent modernisation in 2017, which made her the only fleet solid support ship compatible with the new ''Queen Elizabeth''-class aircraft carriers, whilst the remaining ships were withdrawn from service.<ref>{{cite news |title=RFA Fort Victoria modified to support the aircraft carriers |url=https://www.navylookout.com/rfa-fort-victoria-modified-to-support-the-aircraft-carriers/ |access-date=27 November 2022 |work=NavyLookout |date=14 May 2018}}</ref> In the National Shipbuilding Strategy, published in 2017, the government stated that the contract for the ships would be subject to an international competition, pitting UK firms against those overseas in order to encourage competitiveness.<ref name="NSS">{{cite web |title=National Shipbuilding Strategy: The Future of Naval Shipbuilding in the UK|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643873/NationalShipbuildingStrategy_lowres.pdf |website=gov.uk |publisher=UK Government |access-date=22 September 2020}}</ref> The government also described the ships as "non-warships", which allowed them to be tendered internationally under the European Union's Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).<ref>{{cite news |title=Government ‘hiding behind EU rules’ to offshore shipbuilding contracts say union |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/government-hiding-behind-eu-rules-to-offshore-shipbuilding-contracts-say-union/ |access-date=27 November 2022 |work=UK Defence Journal |date=14 December 2018}}</ref>

The government's strategy was criticised as a potential loss of British skills and jobs by opposition political parties and trade unions, such as GMB and the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions. They argued that the ships should be reclassified as warships and therefore made exempt from the treaty.<ref name="NSS"/><ref name="restart">{{cite news |last1=Chuter |first1=Andrew |title=Britain to restart competition for fleet solid support ships, but who's allowed to bid? |url=https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/05/07/britain-to-restart-competition-for-fleet-solid-support-ships-but-whos-allowed-to-bid/ |access-date=22 September 2020 |agency=DefenseNews |date=7 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Fleet Solid Support Ships |url=http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8351/CBP-8351.pdf |website=House of Commons Library}}</ref> Sir John Parker, whose recommendations formed the basis for the National Shipbuilding Strategy, also criticised it as "not the right strategic approach" and recommended that "UK-only competition should be considered for future defence-funded vessels".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Allison |first1=George |title=Government's own review backs campaign to build Fleet Solid Support Ships in UK |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/governments-own-review-backs-campaign-to-build-fleet-solid-support-ships-in-uk/ |access-date=22 September 2020 |agency=UK Defence Journal |date=7 November 2019}}</ref>

==Development== ===Contract=== In November 2018, a list of bidders was selected for the FSS contract which consisted of a British consortium comprising Babcock, BAE Systems, Cammell Laird and Rolls-Royce, in addition to international bidders, including Fincantieri (Italy), Navantia (Spain), Japan Marine United Corporation (Japan) and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (South Korea).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/shipbuilding-firms-chosen-for-fleet-solid-support-competition|title=Shipbuilding firms chosen for Fleet Solid Support competition|date=30 November 2018|publisher=gov.uk}}</ref> Fincantieri and DSME later withdrew from the competition, but Fincantieri subsequently rejoined.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pfeifer|first=Sylviadate=20 May 2019|title=Big shipbuilders pull out of £1bn MoD support-vessel shortlist|url=https://www.ft.com/content/3dc645c6-78be-11e9-bbad-7c18c0ea0201|work=Financial Times|location=London|access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2019/05/31/in-or-out-heres-why-fincantieri-may-rejoin-bidding-to-build-british-ships|title=In or out? Here's why Fincantieri may rejoin bidding to build British ships|publisher=Defense News|first1=Andrew|last1=Chuter|first2=Tom|last2=Kington|date=31 May 2019|access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref>

The competition was suspended on 5 November 2019 to ensure "requirements could be met" and a "value for money solution found", which raised hopes from trade unions that the competition would be restarted with only British firms involved.<ref name="restart"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hollinger |first1=Peggy |title=MoD halts £1bn international tender for support ships |url=https://www.ft.com/content/39c16806-0019-11ea-b7bc-f3fa4e77dd47 |access-date=22 September 2020 |agency=Financial Times |date=5 November 2019}}</ref> In the following month, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace made a statement describing the ships as "warships" and later confirmed that they would be built "with British involvement".<ref name="warships">{{cite web |title=House of Commons Hansard: Topical Questions - 21 September 2020 Volume 680 |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-09-21/debates/1096F62B-E304-457A-A501-D7D2CD6F997B/TopicalQuestions |website=UK Parliament |access-date=22 September 2020 |date=21 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Fleet Solid Support ships will be built with British involvement |url=https://des.mod.uk/fleet-solid-support-british-built/ |access-date=22 November 2022 |agency=Defence Equipment and Support |date=22 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=UK Government u-turns on Fleet Solid Support Ship designation |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/news/industry-news/uk-government-u-turns-on-fleet-solid-support-ship-designation/ |access-date=22 September 2020 |agency=Naval Technology |date=22 September 2020}}</ref> A restart for the competition was announced for Spring 2021, involving multi-national consortia led by British companies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/fleet-solid-support-ship-competition-to-resume-in-spring/|title=Fleet Solid Support ship competition to resume in Spring|date=2 March 2021|publisher=UK Defence Journal|access-date=4 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=UK shipbuilding boosted by warship procurement |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-shipbuilding-boosted-by-warship-procurement |work=UK Ministry of Defence |location=London |date=21 October 2020 |access-date=21 October 2020}}</ref> In May 2021, the competition was relaunched with a winner to be selected within two years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/competition-for-three-fleet-solid-support-ships-launched/|title = Competition for three Fleet Solid Support ships launched|date = 21 May 2021}}</ref> In July 2022, Rear-Admiral Paul Marshall, the Senior Responsible Officer for programme, told the Defence Select Committee that the first ship was envisaged for service entry in 2028 with the third entering service by 2032.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-changes-course-on-interim-anti-ship-missile-for-a-second-time/ | title=Royal Navy changes course on interim anti-ship missile for a second time &#124; Navy Lookout | date=6 July 2022 }}</ref> However, subsequently the Ministry of Defence indicated that the first ship would in fact not be operational until 2031.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2023-06-13.HL8463.h&s=Fleet+Solid+Support|title=Fleet Solid Support Ships: Procurement Ministry of Defence written question – answered on 27 June 2023 |website=They Work for you |date=27 June 2023}}</ref>

In September 2021, contracts were awarded to four consortia, each involving British companies, to further develop their bids. These were Larsen & Toubro (involving the UK company Leidos Innovations), Serco/Damen (involving UK company Serco), Team Resolute (involving UK companies Harland & Wolff (H&W) and BMT, along with Navantia UK, a British subsidiary of Spain's Navantia) and Team UK (involving UK companies BAE Systems and Babcock).<ref>{{cite news |title=UK enters next stage of Fleet Solid Support competition |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-enters-next-stage-of-fleet-solid-support-competition |access-date=27 November 2022 |work=GOV.UK |date=1 September 2021}}</ref>

In November 2022, it was announced that Team Resolute had been selected as the preferred bidder for the £1.6&nbsp;billion contract. Navantia UK was confirmed as the prime contractor with the ships being fully assembled in H&W's shipyard in Belfast.<ref>{{cite news |title=UK selects Harland & Wolff, Navantia and BMT team for support ships |url=https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/uk-selects-harland-wolff-navantia-and-bmt-team-for-new-support-ships/ |access-date=27 November 2022 |work=Shepherd Media |date=16 November 2022}}</ref> To alleviate concerns from some MPs and trade unions, the CEO of H&W, John Wood, stated that the ships would have a minimum of 60% UK content.<ref name="UKcontent">{{cite news |title=Harland & Wolff boss touts UK credentials of support ship win |url=https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/harland-wolff-boss-touts-uk-credentials-of-support-ship-win/ |work=Shepherd Media |date=25 November 2022}}</ref> The contract will create 1,200 jobs across the UK and a further 800 across the supply chain. It will also mark the return of shipbuilding in Belfast, which has been largely dormant since 2003.<ref name="design">{{cite news |title=Ship building returns to Belfast: Harland & Wolff part of team selected as preferred bidders on new MoD contract |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/northern-ireland/ship-building-returns-to-belfast-harland-and-wolff-part-of-team-selected-as-preferred-bidders-on-new-mod-contract-42149033.html |access-date=27 November 2022 |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=16 November 2022}}</ref> The manufacturing contract, with a value of £1.6 billion, was formally signed in January 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/01/uk-mod-signs-contract-with-team-resolute-for-3-logistic-ships-for-the-royal-navy/ |title=UK MoD Signs Contract With Team Resolute For 3 Logistic Ships For The Royal Navy |publisher=Naval News |date=18 January 2023 |access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref>

===Construction=== The preliminary design review is reportedly to be completed in early 2024 with detailed design work to follow. The ships will be constructed in blocks at H&W's facilities in Belfast and Appledore from components manufactured at their facilities in Methil and Arnish. Major build work will also take place at Navantia's shipyard in Cádiz, Spain.<ref>{{cite news |title=Refining the Fleet Solid Support ship design |url=https://www.navylookout.com/refining-the-fleet-solid-support-ship-design/ |access-date=28 September 2023 |work=NavyLookout |date=28 September 2023}}</ref> Final assembly of all the blocks will take place at the H&W shipyard in Belfast.<ref>{{cite news |title=Team Resolute selected as preferred bidder to build the Fleet Solid Support Ships |url=https://www.navylookout.com/team-resolute-selected-as-preferred-bidder-to-build-the-fleet-solid-support-ships/ |access-date=27 November 2022 |work=NavyLookout |date=16 November 2022}}</ref> In April 2024, the MOD stated that some design work was still ongoing and construction of the first ship is due to begin in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fleet Solid Support Ships: Procurement |url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-04-23/23109 |website=UK Parliament |access-date=30 April 2024}}</ref>

Construction officially began on the first ship, RFA ''Resurgent'', on the 3 December 2025, in a steel-cutting ceremony at the Appledore shipyard in Devon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allison |first=George |date=2025-12-03 |title=UK cuts steel on new support ship as RFA Resurgent is named |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-cuts-steel-on-new-support-ship-as-rfa-resurgent-is-named/ |access-date=2025-12-03 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Characteristics== According to a May 2018 contract notice, the ships require a total cargo capacity of up to {{convert|7000|m3|abbr=on}}, the ability to travel at a sustained speed of {{convert|18|kn|lk=in}} without resupply, the capability of delivering non-bulk logistic material whilst underway at 12 knots and transfer single loads of up to 5 tonnes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:209939-2018:TEXT:EN:HTML&WT|title=United Kingdom-Bristol: Cargo ships 2018/S 092-209939 Contract notice Supplies|date=16 May 2018|publisher=Ted Tenders Electronic Daily}}</ref> As part of Team Resolute, BMT will provide the design for the ships, the latest iteration of which features a length of {{convert|216|m|ft}}, three replenishment rigs, a Replenishment at Sea Control/Coordination (RASCO) station sited amidships and container handling capabilities situated forward. The ships will be capable of {{convert|19|kn|lk=in}} and will have {{convert|9000|m2|sqft}} of cargo space for stores. The ships' hangars will be able to accommodate two Merlin helicopters, with further accommodation for UAVs.<ref name="design"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Royal Fleet Auxiliary