Royal Navy: Construction starts on first FSS ship

December 4, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

At Navantia UK’s Appledore shipyard in North Devon, the traditional steel-cutting ceremony has marked the start of construction on the first vessel in the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) program for the Royal Navy.

As disclosed, the ceremony, which took place on December 3, 2025, was attended by the Navantia UK workforce along with apprentices and representatives from the Ministry of Defense Equipment & Support (DE&S), the RFA, Royal Navy, government, and industry. UK suppliers to the FSS program, as well as local businesses supplying to the Appledore shipyard, were also in attendance.

The three FSS vessels will be the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s modern solid stores replenishment ships, each measuring 216 metres in length.

FSS ships will be the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s modern solid stores replenishment ships, which will deliver crucial munitions, supplies and provisions to the Royal Navy while at sea. They will also be central to logistical and operational support, including counter-piracy and counter-terrorism missions.

According to Navantia, they will be the largest UK military ships with the exception of aircraft carriers. The North Devon shipyard will construct the bow sections of the ships, which will comprise three individual blocks.

The units will deliver vital supplies, munitions and provisions to Royal Navy warships while at sea, to enhance the UK’s carrier strike capability and support maritime security operations worldwide.

“The FSS programme continues to deliver on two fronts: critical capability for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and long-term sovereign industrial capacity for the UK through investment in infrastructure, technology and skills,” Donato Martínez, CEO of Navantia UK, said.

“This is a significant moment as we begin the build of the RFA’s newest ship that will keep our Royal Navy ready to fight and able to deter future threats,” Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard, added.

Commodore Sam Shattock, Head of Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service, revealed the name of the first ship as RFA Resurgent.

“The ship is innovative, meets the latest environmental protection standards and is designed from the bottom up to deliver maritime sustainment as efficiently as possible. The construction will provide impetus to the UK ship building industry, supporting jobs and local economies at the various construction and assembly locations in the UK. I’m excited to watch this ship join the RFA flotilla and demonstrate its capabilities in due course,” Shattock noted.

Last month, the FSS program achieved another critical milestone, namely, the completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR), marking the transition from design to manufacturing for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s next-generation support ships.

The CDR is a key stage in the shipbuilding process, essentially providing the green light to begin physical production of the three FSS ships. This comprehensive Ministry of Defense review assessed the complete, detailed design of the vessels, from hull structure to equipment fit.

The Review covered overall structural integrity, safety standards, environmental sustainability, risk minimisation, and military systems integration.