UK FSS programme achieves CDR milestone

The CDR has confirmed the maturity of the UK FSS design prior to starting manufacture. (BMT)

The United Kingdom's Fleet Solid Support (FSS) vessel programme has passed its critical design review (CDR), paving the way for the transition from design to manufacture.

Announcing the milestone on 12 November, prime contractor Navantia UK said the successful CDR “provides the green light to begin physical production of the three FSS ships”. The CDR follows a preliminary design review completed in October 2024.

Navantia UK was in January 2023 awarded a GBP1.6 billion (USD2.1 billion) FSS contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) covering the delivery of three new solid support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). The company – leading Team Resolute – had bid for the programme in partnership with Belfast-based engineering group Harland & Wolff and design house BMT as part of the UK's National Shipbuilding Strategy refresh, first published by the MoD in March 2022.

Formally concluding on 23 October, the CDR has served to confirm the maturity of the ship design prior to starting build. The review, performed with the MoD, assessed all areas of the detailed design of the ships, including structural integrity, safety standards, environmental sustainability, risk minimisation, and military systems integration. 

Civilian-manned and operated by the RFA, the FSS ships will increase the capability of the UK Carrier Strike Group to operate globally by replenishing stores and ammunition. The design developed by BMT – with a length of 216 m, a beam of 34.5 m, and displacing around 39,000 tonnes – is configured with three heavy replenishment at sea (RAS) delivery rigs (one to starboard, two to port) with a centralised RAS control station sited amidships. Two large deck cranes are positioned forward.