Ministers have been locked in an explosive battle over defence funding, which triggered the resignations of Defence Secretary John Healey and Al Carns, the armed forces minister
Keir Starmer has ditched plans to replace the Royal Navy’s ageing destroyers in favour of “hybrid” warships in a long-awaited plan to modernise the armed forces.
At least six new Common Combat Vessels will replace the current fleet of six Type 45 destroyers, with the rollout expected from the early 2030s.
The new warships will be able to coordinate uncrewed systems in the air, on the surface and under the sea, at a time of rising Russian submarine activity in the Atlantic near critical undersea cables.
Plans to build a new class of guided-missile warship, a Type 83 destroyer, to replace the existing ships have been dropped from the crisis-hit Defence Investment Plan (Dip), which is expected to be published this week.
Ministers have been locked in an explosive battle over funding, which triggered the resignations of Defence Secretary John Healey and Al Carns, the armed forces minister, earlier this month.
The new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis is understood to have secured another £1billion on top of what Mr Healey was offered, taking the total closer to £15billion over the next four years. But the sum falls far short of the £28billion defence chiefs have reportedly said is needed to make Britain war-fighting ready.
The Prime Minister is expected to publish the Dip as early as Tuesday, ahead of a crucial Nato summit in early July. It will be one of his last major acts in office before he hands over the reins to his expected successor Andy Burnham. Mr Burnham is said to have signed off on the plans.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said: “Our Royal Navy is a formidable force, operating to protect our nation and our allies in the Atlantic and beyond. These Common Combat Vessels will provide our dedicated sailors with hybrid ships that are designed and built for the increasing threats we face.
“Developed with exceptional British innovators, the new ships will be British-built, supporting jobs across the nation and giving the Royal Navy a capability built for modern warfare.”
The plans come as part of a drive by First Sea Admiral General Sir Gwyn Jenkins to shift towards a new “hybrid Navy” made up of traditional crewed ships and submarines, as well as autonomous vehicles and AI.
Officials said Mr Jarvis had shifted the focus of the Dip towards getting more kit to frontline troops, including £500million to equip the UK Commando Force with high-speed boats and lethal strike drones.
The elite force – which is capable of deploying anywhere in the world at short notice – will see investment focused on activities in the High North, where Russian activity is on the rise. Some of the funding will go towards new high-speed commando insertion craft, which could be used in the seizure of Russian shadow fleet vessels.
Earlier this month, Royal Marine commandos helped intercept the tanker Smyrtos in the Channel in the first UK-led operation to capture a sanctioned ship.