Key decisions await RN (Opinion)
HMS Queen Elizabeth returned to Portsmouth on 9 December following its maiden deployment in Carrier Strike Group 21. (Photo: UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
Perhaps the most important part of Adm Sir Ben Key’s tenure as First Sea Lord will not be the immediate RN of today, but setting the conditions for the navy of the future.
As the new head of the RN, First Sea Lord (FSL) Adm Sir Ben Key inherits a force that, on paper, has undergone significant transformation and appears well placed to deliver maritime force on behalf of the UK government.
With new ships, a strong building programme and stable funding in place, in theory his tenure in the role should be straightforward. Look deeper, though, and there appear to be a range of potentially significant challenges ahead, all of which could cause real disruption.
The defining buzzword of his predecessor Adm Sir Tony Radakin (now Chief of the Defence Staff) during
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![First Canadian Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker is “on track” for keel laying in late 2026]()
First Canadian Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker is “on track” for keel laying in late 2026
Canadian Coast Guard Ship Arpatuuq construction is in the block manufacturing phase. Once built, it will be the largest vessel in the Coast Guard’s inventory.
-
![US Navy extends the deadline for submitting proposals for the Next Generation Logistics Ship]()
US Navy extends the deadline for submitting proposals for the Next Generation Logistics Ship
NAVSEA plans to select up to three suppliers for the concept design phase of the programme in Q2 FY2026.
-
![South Korea displays domestic technology capabilities with KSS-III submarine launch]()
South Korea displays domestic technology capabilities with KSS-III submarine launch
Hanwha Ocean’s Jang Yeong-sil is the Republic of Korea Navy’s first 3,600t submarine and is the first of three boats in the military’s KSS-III programme.
-
![ST Engineering Marine expands capacity, seeks regional partners for growth]()
ST Engineering Marine expands capacity, seeks regional partners for growth
The company could be looking to collaborate with other Asian nations as well as countries further afield as it pushes ahead with its shipyard expansion plans.
-
![US Navy approaches the award of a follow-on contract for Aegis production]()
US Navy approaches the award of a follow-on contract for Aegis production
Naval Sea Systems Command intends to grant a production agreement for the Aegis Weapon System covering the FY2026-FY2030 period.
