Britain will replace its ageing Type 45 destroyer fleet with at least six new Common Combat Vessels (CCVs), marking the Royal Navy’s first “hybrid” warships under a new Defence Investment Plan.
The six Type 45 destroyers are set to retire by the end of 2038. Rather than proceeding with the planned Type 83 destroyer program, which remains in early development, the government will instead develop CCVs designed to act as command hubs for uncrewed systems.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) said the CCVs are “more suited to the pace and nature of modern warfare” than the Type 83 destroyers. In its statement, the MOD described the vessels as the Royal Navy’s first hybrid warships, capable of coordinating uncrewed systems across all domains.
“Unlike its predecessors, the new warship will act as a control hub for uncrewed systems – extending the Navy’s reach, resilience and firepower without a proportional increase in crew or cost,” the ministry said in a press release.
The government said the vessels will support operations to counter Russian activity in the North Atlantic and High North, protect critical undersea infrastructure and strengthen NATO’s deterrence posture.
The new ships, which will be built in the U.K., are expected to enter service in the early 2030s. They will operate alongside crewed frigates and future autonomous vessels.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the investment as a major modernization effort.
“This game-changing investment will strengthen our Armed Forces on land, at sea and in the air, ensuring our servicemen and women have the cutting-edge capabilities they need to deter evolving threats and keep the British people safe,” Starmer said.
