FLEET SOLID SUPPORT

Military Capability

Record date: 31 March 2026

Whole-life cost: Not disclosed
Published schedule: 14/03/2016 – 28/07/2033
NISTA delivery confidence: Not disclosed
Senior responsible owner: Mike Gannon

What the project is for

Fleet Solid Support will deliver three auxiliary ships to provide stores, ammunition and food sustainment to Naval Forces at Sea.

Departmental delivery commentary

Compared to financial year 24/25 Q4, the NISTA/SRO Delivery Confidence Assessment (DCA) rating at 25/26 Q4 remained at Amber. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. The Fleet Solid Support programme has continued to make steady progress in the 2025/6 reporting year with the Critical Design Review milestone achieved in late 2025 ahead of formal cut steel for RFA Resurgent (ship 1) on 03 Dec 25. 2. The programme is now firmly in production with blocks started at three of the build locations. Navantia UK understanding and growth of capability at the yards they now operate, post Harland and Wolff takeover, has progressed. 3. The major part of the infrastructure investment agreed as part of the FSS contract is now nearing completion. 4. Areas of concern remain the supply chain, team resourcing and the longer-term issue of the crewing of the ships which at present will likely slow the entry into service

Schedule

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the project's end-date at 25/26-Q4 remained the same at 31/03/2033.

Cost

Exempt under Section 43 - Commercial interests

Benefits

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the project's departmentally agreed Benefits at 25/26-Q4 (measured in £m) remained at 0. This is primarily due to the following factors. No monetised benefits.