Overview
- Steel cutting at Appledore on 3 December marked the official start of construction and confirmed the lead vessel’s name, RFA Resurgent.
- Appledore will produce the bow blocks for each ship, which will be transported to Harland & Wolff Belfast for integration, final assembly and trials.
- Each of the three 216‑metre vessels is designed to deliver munitions, spares and refrigerated stores to Royal Navy ships at sea.
- The Ministry of Defence cites £115 million invested across four shipyards, supporting about 1,200 skilled jobs and recruiting 222 apprentices.
- The programme completed its Critical Design Review last month, clearing the way for manufacture and setting up class entry to service in the early 2030s.