Construction has officially commenced on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s new Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships, marked by a steel-cutting ceremony at the Appledore shipyard. The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, initiated the first cut of steel for the vessel, which has been named RFA Resurgent.
The FSS programme represents a significant investment in the UK’s sovereign shipbuilding capability, with £115 million being channelled into four shipyards, including Harland & Wolff’s facilities in Belfast, Appledore, and Scotland. This investment is projected to create 1,200 skilled jobs and 222 apprenticeships across the UK supply chain. The programme is being managed by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) in partnership with prime contractor Navantia UK.
The industrial workshare will see construction distributed across several key sites. The Appledore shipyard in North Devon, which now employs 200 staff, will be responsible for constructing the bow sections of the ships. Other ship modules will be built at various yards before final assembly, integration, and trials are conducted at Harland & Wolff’s main shipyard in Belfast. This distributed manufacturing model provides multiple entry points for subcontractors and suppliers across the UK.
RFA Resurgent is the first of a new class of vessel designed to provide essential logistical support to the Royal Navy, enabling carrier strike groups and other naval task forces to remain deployed for extended periods. The ships, measuring over 200 metres in length, will be capable of delivering munitions, food, spare parts, and other vital stores to naval vessels at sea. This capability is a critical enabler for global operations and is a key component of the Strategic Defence Review.
The ceremony also included the official naming of the ship by Commodore Sam Shattock, Commodore of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. According to the programme schedule, delivery of RFA Resurgent is expected in 2031. The start of this build phase marks a tangible step forward in modernising the UK’s naval support infrastructure and provides long-term opportunities for British industry.
