Developments in modular systems, manpower-reduction, miniaturisation, autonomous and off-board systems make it easier for different roles to co-exist in a single vessel. MRSS is not an entirely new idea, a pre-concept study was conducted between 2017-2018 by the MoDвЂ™s Naval Design Partnering (NDP) team, primarily focussed on possible replacements for the LPDs. The Elidda / MRSS design could also form the basis of a UK hospital or aid ship.

The relative merits of a dedicated hospital ship or aid ship (a very significant difference) are discussed in more depth here but potentially such a vessel could use the same MRSS platform. This would partly relieve the burden on the Naval Service, providing disaster relief and medical support duties overseas as well as be on hand for battlefield casualties or possibly support the NHS in times of extreme crisis. MRSS may now supersede both the FSS and LSS projects.ДЇor several years we have promoted the idea of building a UK aid or hospital ship(s) funded by DfID. As several more enlightened defence ministers have taken office, keen to support British industry, the project was suspended in November 2019 with the expectation that FSS would be restarted and open only to UK bidders. FSS procurement has been the source of great controversy ever since the government of Theresa May decided to hold in an open international competition for their construction.

Previal Partners produced a very credible proposal for the requirement which had been quietly in development for several years but there are strong indications LSS is now dead.ДЄ new generation of Fleet Solid Support ships (FSS) is needed to supply the aircraft carriers and their supporting warships with ammunition, food and spares at sea. Subsequently, there has been very limited further official comment about the vessels which were intended to be forward deployed to act as Special Forces and amphibious raiding base.

The Future Littoral Strike Ship concept was first announced by Gavin Williamson in February 2019. In this speculative piece, we look at the background and the potential options. During an internal briefing in mid-March, its was revealed that the RN could be planning to dispense with the Fleet Solid Support ship (FSS) and Littoral Strike Ship (LSS) concepts and standardise on a single hull known as the Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS).

Doom combat support drone