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Warships

Asked by Andrew BowieConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 10 July 2026UIN 15398

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many crewed surface combatants he expects the Royal Navy to operate in the 2030s under the revised fleet model and how this compares with previous plans.

Answered by Luke Pollard

The exact mix of platforms and timing will be the subject of detailed further work that remains sensitive. Beyond 2030, the Royal Navy will move increasingly toward a hybrid model; crewed where necessary, uncrewed where possible to increase the total number of platforms. The number of smaller autonomous vessels, supporting the larger ships, will enable the Navy to increase its mass – meaning it can be in more places, over a wider area, for longer.

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