Fleet Solid Support ship contract placed
A rendering of the Team Resolute Fleet Solid Support ship design. (Photo: Navantia)
After selecting Team Resolute in 2022, the UK MoD has placed a firm contract to order three new support ships.
The UK MoD has formally awarded Team Resolute – a consortium of Navantia UK, Harland & Wolff, and BMT – a £1.6 billion ($1.97 billion) contract to build three new naval support ships.
The three Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships will be assembled at Harland & Wolff, with blocks and modules to be constructed at Navantia’s Cadiz shipyard and Harland & Wolff’s Belfast and Appledore facilities.
They will be the first ships built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast since MV Anvil Point in 2002.
Related Articles
UK selects Harland & Wolff, Navantia and BMT team for support ships
Harland & Wolff boss touts UK credentials of support ship win
Navantia and SH Defence tie the knot on The Cube
The contract will see £100 million ($123 million) invested into UK shipyards.
UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: ‘This contract is a significant boost to the UK’s historic shipbuilding industry, balancing shipbuilding across the Union.
‘Creating jobs and prosperity, Team Resolute is bringing shipbuilding back to Belfast, developing a modern, resilient and thriving shipbuilding industry that will support naval and commercial shipbuilding into the future.’
Production is set to start in 2025, with recapitalisation and yard improvements to begin immediately.
All three ships are expected to be operational by 2032.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Leonardo fires up small calibre naval gun development as Italy nears first Lionfish X-Gun handover]()
Leonardo fires up small calibre naval gun development as Italy nears first Lionfish X-Gun handover
Alongside progress on its Lionfish contracts, Leonardo emphasised its shift in focus from traditional larger calibre systems toward smaller calibre solutions, epitomised by the X-Gun’s inception in 2017.
-
![Royal Navy welcomes mine-hunting mothership]()
Royal Navy welcomes mine-hunting mothership
RFA Stirling Castle, a 6,000-tonne vessel, will start operations later this year.
-
![Norway’s aim to purchase new frigates may impact Royal Navy’s own fleet production]()
Norway’s aim to purchase new frigates may impact Royal Navy’s own fleet production
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has only so far confirmed that discussions have been taking place with BAE Systems, but a decision has yet to be made, according to The Telegraph.
