Royal Navy to replace ageing destroyers with hybrid warships

(Sharecast News) - The Royal Navy is to acquire at least six hybrid warships, the government confirmed on Monday, as it looks to replace its fleet of Type 45 destroyers. The Ministry of Defence had been exploring replacing the ageing Type 45 with the Type 83, an experimental vessel that is still at concept phase. Defence contractor Babcock International had been one of the candidates bidding to build it.

However, the MoD confirmed that it was instead opting for six common combat vessels, which are smaller than traditional destroyers and able to deploy drones both in the air and underwater.

It said: "Rather than concentrating capability in a small number of large, expensive ships, the Royal Navy's shift to a hybrid navy will mix crewed and uncrewed capabilities and be more suited to the pace and nature of modern warfare."

Defence secretary Dan Jarvis added: "The new ships will be British-built, supporting jobs across the nation and giving the Royal Navy a capability built for modern warfare."

Confirmation of the shift away from the Type 83 weighed on Babcock's shares, which fell as much as 7% earlier in the session. By 1500 BST the blue chip had pared back some losses, but remained down 3% at 940p.

The ships are being acquired under the government's much-anticipated defence investment plan, with delivery expected in the early 2030s. Outgoing prime minister Keir Starmer has committed to publish the full plan ahead of the Nato summit in Turkey on 7 July.

The MoD said: "The funding announced in the DIP allows the National Armaments Director Group to commence the design work that will underpin the fundamental shift in how to deliver air defence at and from the sea."