The Common Combat Vessel will replace the Royal Navy’s current fleet of six Type 45 destroyers. Delivery is expected from the early 2030s as part of a wider shift in how the Navy delivers air defence at and from the sea.
The Ministry of Defence said the new ship will be the Royal Navy’s first hybrid warship. It will coordinate uncrewed systems in the air, on the surface and under the sea to deliver more resilient air defence.
Unlike its predecessors, the vessel will act as a control hub for uncrewed systems. The approach is intended to extend the Navy’s reach, resilience and firepower without a proportional increase in crew or cost.
The new ships will replace earlier plans for a Type 83 destroyer. The ministry said the Royal Navy will instead mix crewed and uncrewed capabilities in a force structure better suited to the pace and nature of modern warfare.
Funding in the Defence Investment Plan will allow the National Armaments Director Group to begin design work for the programme. That work will underpin a fundamental change in the delivery of maritime air defence.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MBE MP 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.”
He added: “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 Ministry of Defence said the programme will sustain and grow the UK shipbuilding sector.
When in service, the Common Combat Vessels will operate alongside eight Type 26 and five Type 31 crewed frigates. They will also work with Type 91 uncrewed missile platforms, Type 92 uncrewed underwater sensing platforms, Type 93 Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles and Type 94 uncrewed sensor platforms.
The ministry said the programme represents a once-in-a-generation investment in new maritime capability. It is also expected to provide new work for British shipyards, maintain vital skills and support wider defence-driven economic growth.
The Common Combat Vessel programme will anchor three new Atlantic programmes: Atlantic Bastion, Atlantic Shield and Atlantic Strike. These programmes are designed to counter Russian activity in the North Atlantic and High North, protect critical underwater infrastructure and enhance NATO deterrence.
The ship’s adaptable design is expected to create opportunities across the UK defence industry. The Ministry of Defence said it also positions the platform for global export potential, citing the Type 26 frigate’s selection by Australia, Canada and Norway as evidence of international demand for British-built warships.
