Britain’s Ministry of Defence intends to complete the Strategic Outline Case for its Strategic Sealift Future programme before the end of this financial year, according to a parliamentary answer reported by UK Defence Journal.
The statement, from Defence Minister Luke Pollard, concerns the first of the Treasury’s five case stages. It will establish the need for a replacement fleet and examine the available options; it does not represent a procurement decision or award.
The programme is intended to replace the four Point-class roll-on/roll-off ships used to move the Army’s heavy equipment. The ships carry armoured vehicles, artillery and stores for deployments and exercises, and support the movement of a division-sized force by sea, UK Defence Journal reports.
The existing fleet is being maintained while the successor programme develops. Ministers previously confirmed that all four Point-class ships would receive extensive refits. Navy Lookout’s analysis says the refit programme is intended to keep the ships operating to 2031, under the £476M Strategic Sealift Interim contract, which requires the vessels to be available for tasking 355 days a year and ready for new tasking within 72 hours.
Navy Lookout also reports that the January 2025 request for information specified a minimum of 15,600 lane metres across at least four future ships, compared with roughly 9,600 lane metres provided by the current Point class. The requirement included capacity for Challenger 3 tanks and Boxer armoured vehicles, as well as ramps, container-handling cranes and operations in northern waters.
However, the Ministry of Defence has not publicly announced a shipbuilder, detailed acquisition strategy or final number of vessels, according to Navy Lookout. The current development therefore establishes a planning milestone, while the cost, ownership model, supplier and delivery schedule for the replacement fleet remain undisclosed.