The Liberal Democrats have proposed expanding Britain's shipbuilding capacity through the construction of four new shipyards and six additional Royal Navy frigates.
As informed, the proposals include three additional Type 31 frigates and three additional Type 26 frigates, with the vessels to be built by the middle of the 2030s, by the end of the next UK parliamentary term.
The party said the proposed shipyard expansion and additional warship orders would provide the British defense industry with a long-term pipeline of work, supporting investment, retaining engineering skills and increasing domestic shipbuilding capacity.
The announcement coincides with polling commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, which found that 60% of respondents believe the UK government is not doing enough to protect critical infrastructure, including underwater cables, from Russian attacks.
The party also pointed to increased Royal Navy monitoring activity around UK waters, saying the navy is spending 25% more time monitoring Russian vessels than during the previous two years.
Concerns have also been raised over Russian military activity near critical maritime infrastructure. In May, a Russian attack submarine and two spy submarines were reportedly observed operating near undersea cables in the North Atlantic for a month, according to the officials.
The party also cited an incident in June in which a Russian warship allegedly fired warning shots at a yacht off the Isle of Wight, as well as Russian naval escorts for vessels suspected of circumventing international sanctions.
The proposals follow criticism from the Defence Select Committee, which this week called for significant progress in strengthening the UK's armed forces and naval capabilities to counter threats in the High North.
While the government's 2025 Strategic Defence Review outlined plans for a new 'Hybrid Navy', the Liberal Democrats argued that the delayed Defence Investment Plan had not provided the resources required to deliver the proposed capabilities.
The party has called on the Chancellor to use the upcoming budget to introduce Defence Bonds to finance increased defence spending and support the expansion of Britain's shipbuilding industry. It said a more predictable programme of naval orders would help replace stop-start procurement cycles and strengthen the country's domestic defence industrial base.
Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson James MacCleary said the UK needed additional investment in naval capabilities and shipbuilding capacity in response to Russian activity.
“We cannot afford to sit on our hands while Putin’s aggression intensifies and our national security weakens. We need a plan which gives confidence to British industry and allows our manufacturers to get on with delivering for Britain’s long-term security," he added.
“By investing now in six new warships and by expanding our ship-building capacity with four new British shipyards, we can regenerate our fleet, protect our vital underwater infrastructure, and ensure Britain has the defence capabilities we need to stand up to the Kremlin.”