UK Decommissions Naval Vessels in Sweeping Defence Overhaul

The UK Defence Secretary, John Healey, has unveiled a comprehensive defence reform strategy that includes the decommissioning of several naval vessels and military assets to modernise capabilities and redirect resources.

In a statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday, Healey announced that the Royal Navy’s fleet would be streamlined to prioritise future technologies and improve personnel retention.

Notable among the retirements are HMS Northumberland, deemed uneconomical to repair due to structural damage, and HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, two landing ships maintained at a cost of £9 million annually but effectively out of service.

Beyond the Navy, the decommissioning plan extends to 46 Watchkeeper Mk1 drones, 14 Chinook helicopters, two Wave Class tankers, and 17 Puma helicopters.

These measures are projected to save the Ministry of Defence £150 million over the next two years and up to £500 million over five years.

“For too long, our soldiers, sailors, and aviators have been stuck with old, outdated equipment because Ministers wouldn’t make the difficult decommissioning decisions,” said Healey. “As technology advances at pace, we must move faster towards the future.”

Healey assured that affected personnel would be redeployed or retrained, with no redundancies planned. The initiative includes new retention payments for specific military roles to bolster staffing stability.

The reforms are part of a larger initiative Healey described as “the biggest reform programme in defence for 50 years.” Key changes include the establishment of a Military Strategic Headquarters and the appointment of a National Armaments Director to enhance efficiency and accountability.

The Defence Secretary emphasised the importance of adapting to evolving threats, quoting the First Sea Lord: “The threat is changing, so we must have the self-confidence to make the changes required.”