Update: UK explores offshore support vessel options for MHC
RFA Stirling Castle (ex-MV Island Crown ) was purchased from commercial interests in early 2023 to meet a requirement for an OSV to operate MHC Block 1 systems in home waters. (Crown Copyright/UK MoD)
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Royal Navy (RN) are moving forward with analyses to consider mother ship options for the next phase of the RN's Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, officials have told Janes .
Current plans call for the acquisition of three offshore support vessels (OSVs) as part of the forthcoming MHC Block 2 programme. The MoD has previously purchased a commercial offshore support platform to meet its initial requirement for an OSV to support mine countermeasures (MCM) in UK waters.
The MHC programme is designed to deliver the RN a next-generation MCM capability based on autonomous ‘system of systems' packages that will be capable of executing MCM operations both in home waters and overseas. The overarching aim is to exploit advances in technology in areas such as autonomy, sensors, and advanced data processing techniques to increase the tempo of MCM; improve survey ‘product'; enhance transportability of MCM systems through ‘modularisation'; and take crews out of the mine danger area.
An MoD procurement pipeline notice issued on 15 May advised an intent to commence a tender activity in November 2026. A budget of GBP330 million (USD438 million) has been allocated to the procurement, with a contract award planned for July 2027.
Planning assumptions
Current planning assumptions underpinning the RN's MHC Block 2 programme envisage a force design comprising six mission systems, plus three ‘hosting' OSVs for deployed operations. As a precursor, the MoD in early 2023 acquired the offshore vessel MV Island Crown
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