Overview
- Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard initiated the steel cut at Navantia UK's Appledore yard in Devon.
- Appledore will fabricate the bow sections in three blocks for transport to Harland & Wolff in Belfast for integration and final assembly.
- The Ministry of Defence reports £115 million invested across four UK shipyards, supporting about 1,200 jobs and more than 200 apprentices.
- Navantia UK is investing £100 million to upgrade machinery and digital production systems at Appledore and Belfast.
- The 216-metre lead ship is slated for delivery in 2031 to sustain Royal Navy operations by delivering munitions, spares, food and other stores at sea.