UK Plans to Build Six New Amphibious Warships for Royal Marines
Speaking at the annual Sea Power Conference on May 14t, British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announced plans to build up to six new amphibious warships for the Royal Marines. According to the Royal Navy, these Multi Role Support Ships (MRSS) will be “extremely versatile warships” which are “designed to carry vehicles, aircraft, insertion craft and a broad range of uncrewed systems for complicated missions”. The ships will also have substantial medical care capabilities.
In the words of MRSS Programme Director, Commander Alex Allen:
“These ships must be ready to meet a future threat where they will be required to exploit new technology and change roles quickly. Adaptability and flexibility will be central to the Multi Role Support Ship design, as will interoperability with our NATO allies.”
So far, the program has just entered its first phase which seeks to consult and engage industry ahead of the main design phase. According to Defence Equipment & Support CEO, Andy Start:
“With the MOD’s new Integrated Procurement Model in place and DE&S undergoing its biggest transformation in a decade we are aiming to be faster, more efficient, more innovative, more integrated and more productive when delivering new equipment such as the Multi-Role Support Ships for the Royal Marines. … Our MRSS team has already begun engaging with the potential shipbuilding market to lay the groundwork for this versatile and essential future capability.”
The new MRSS vessels are set to replace six of the amphibious warfare ships currently in British service by the early 2030s. Three of those will be the Bay-Class vessels RFA Mounts Bay, RFA Cardigan Bay and RFA Lyme Bay which were launched between 2004 and 2005. HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, Both Albion-Class vessels launched in 2001, as well as the Aviation Support Ship RFA Argus, are also slated to be replaced.
With the new announcement, 28 British-made ships and submarines for the Royal Navy are now planned or being built as part of what Defence Secretary Shapps has reffered to as a “new Golden Age for British shipbuilding”. Britain’s allies are also announcing new plans for naval expansion and modernization. Earlier this year, Britain’s AUKUS partner Australia had announced plans to double the size of its surface fleet. More recently, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair discussed plans for the development of new Canadian submarines.