Work on HMS Spey begins
Work has begun on the the future HMS Spey at BAE Systems' Govan shipyard on the Clyde in Scotland, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 21 April.
Spey is one of two Batch 2 River class Offshore Patrol Vessels being built under a £287 million agreement signed between the MoD and BAE Systems in December 2016. The vessel is due to be delivered to the Royal Navy in 2019 and enter service by 2021.
The vessel will be 90 metres long and displace around 2,000 tonnes, and will carry a 30mm cannon and have a flight deck capable of receiving a Merlin helicopter. It will have a maximum speed of 24 knots and will be able to sail 5,500 nautical miles before having to resupply.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![How far will the US Navy’s FF(X) design deviate from the Legend-class?]()
How far will the US Navy’s FF(X) design deviate from the Legend-class?
The new frigate class’s focus on modularity, speed to build and enhanced armament align with the priorities of the US Navy’s Golden Fleet.
-
![How China’s naval advancements are pushing the US Navy to innovate]()
How China’s naval advancements are pushing the US Navy to innovate
The US Navy is set to invest $30 billion in artificial intelligence, cyber, space and autonomy research and development efforts in FY2026 as the force rethinks how it fights in light of China’s naval rise.
-
![UK and France signal shift to autonomous helicopters to boost naval power]()
UK and France signal shift to autonomous helicopters to boost naval power
Recent developments in France and the UK highlight how autonomous helicopters are becoming central to naval force design as navies seek to integrate crewed and uncrewed systems at sea.
-
![US Coast Guard’s small response boat demonstrators to be delivered in three months]()
US Coast Guard’s small response boat demonstrators to be delivered in three months
The platforms will be tested in multiple missions to define performance requirements for a coming acquisition programme.
