The Ministry of Defence confirmed on 3 September 2026 that the keel of RFA Resurgent was laid at Navantia UK’s shipyard in Appledore, Devon. The ceremony officially starts construction of the United Kingdom’s first Fleet Solid Support (FSS) vessel and cements a £100 million programme that will create about 1,200 new jobs and hundreds of apprenticeships across Navantia’s yards in Appledore and Belfast.
What the Fleet Solid Support programme entails
The FSS programme is a core element of the Royal Navy’s logistics strategy. The three‑ship class will provide underway replenishment of fuel, ammunition and stores to the fleet, extending operational reach and reducing reliance on foreign ports. The programme’s total investment of £100 million is earmarked for upgrades to the two UK shipyards that will build the ships, as stated in the GOV.UK press release.
Navantia UK, the British arm of the Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, operates the Appledore yard in Devon and a facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland. While the press release does not disclose the company’s overall headcount, it confirms that the FSS programme will generate roughly 1,200 permanent jobs during the construction phase and will support “hundreds of apprenticeships” for skilled trade training.
Keel‑laying ceremony and sister‑ship names
The ceremony was attended by senior Royal Navy officials, including the Head of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Commodore Sam Shattock, who announced the names of the two sister ships: RFA Reliant and RFA Resourceful. The press release records his exact words: “The names of her sister ships, RFA Reliant and RFA Resourceful, were also announced during the ceremony by the Head of the RFA, Commodore Sam Shattock.”
By tradition, a keel‑laying marks the formal start of a ship’s construction. For RFA Resurgent, the event also signalled the revival of UK shipbuilding capacity after a decade of reduced output following the 2013 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which saw several yards close or downsize. The new investment therefore carries both operational and industrial policy significance.
Job creation, apprenticeships and regional impact
The £100 million injection is split between the two shipyards, though the exact allocation is not detailed in the release. The programme’s employment promise – approximately 1,200 jobs – is measured against the construction timeline, which runs from the 2026 keel‑laying through to the early‑2030s service entry. The press release notes that the apprenticeships will be “ongoing during construction,” suggesting a continuous pipeline of training opportunities for local talent.
For the South‑West of England, the Appledore yard has historically been a major employer in the region. The Belfast yard, meanwhile, supports the shipbuilding ecosystem in Northern Ireland, an area that has sought to diversify its industrial base beyond aerospace. The creation of new jobs in both locations is expected to have a multiplier effect on local supply chains, from steel fabrication to specialised marine engineering services.
Timeline and delivery expectations
The keel‑laying on 3 September 2026 is the first milestone in a multi‑year schedule. The press release projects that RFA Resurgent will enter service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in the early 2030s. No exact year is given, but the “early 2030s” window aligns with the Ministry of Defence’s broader plan to have the three‑ship class operational by the mid‑2030s.
Following the launch of the first ship, the two sister vessels – RFA Reliant and RFA Resourceful – are expected to follow a similar construction cadence, though their keel‑laying dates have not yet been announced. The programme’s delivery is described as “on track” in the press release, indicating that the Ministry does not anticipate major schedule overruns.
Strategic significance for UK defence and industry
The FSS ships will enhance the Royal Navy’s ability to sustain carrier strike groups and amphibious task forces at sea for longer periods. By providing a dedicated logistics platform, the ships reduce the need for commercial tankers and mitigate the risk of supply chain disruption in contested waters.
From an industrial perspective, the programme represents a rare instance of large‑scale, government‑backed investment in UK shipbuilding since the 2010s. It demonstrates a policy shift towards re‑establishing domestic capacity for high‑value defence contracts, a trend echoed in recent announcements on submarine and frigate programmes.
What remains unknown
- The precise split of the £100 million investment between Appledore and Belfast.
- The exact number of apprenticeships that will be funded – the release only says “hundreds”.
- The final cost of each vessel, as the £100 million figure covers the overall programme rather than ship‑by‑ship spend.
- Whether any additional private‑sector partners will be involved in component supply.
These gaps are typical of early‑stage defence procurement announcements, where detailed cost breakdowns are released later in the acquisition cycle.
Key figures for the Fleet Solid Support programme
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Investment | £100 million |
| Jobs created | ≈1,200 |
| Apprenticeships | Hundreds |
| First ship | RFA Resurgent (keel laid 3 Sept 2026) |
| Service entry (expected) | Early 2030s |
| Source: GOV.UK press release (Ministry of Defence) | |
With construction now under way, the next steps will involve outfitting the hull, installing propulsion systems and integrating the replenishment equipment that will allow the ship to support the fleet at sea. The Ministry of Defence has indicated that the programme remains on schedule, but future updates will be needed to track cost overruns, workforce recruitment progress and the final delivery dates of the sister vessels.
For UK shipyards, the FSS programme is a tangible sign that the government is willing to back large‑scale, high‑technology projects domestically. If the target of 1,200 jobs and hundreds of apprenticeships is met, the initiative could serve as a template for future defence‑related industrial programmes, helping to rebuild a skilled maritime workforce that has been eroded over the past decade.
Stakeholders—including local councils, trade unions and supply‑chain firms—will be watching the programme closely as it moves from the construction phase into sea‑trials and, ultimately, operational service in the early 2030s.