Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2026 to Question 18895 on Patrol Craft, how he intends to cover the capability requirement created by the retirement of OPV Batch 1 in 2028.
Answer
The Royal Navy plans its force against the capabilities and operational outputs it requires, rather than on the basis of direct platform-for-platform replacement. The Defence Investment Plan allocates £200 million to Offshore Patrol Vessels, and future OPV procurement and deployment plans are being reviewed to ensure they remain aligned with Defence priorities. The Royal Navy continues to operate its Batch 2 River-class OPVs as part of its forward-deployed global presence, investment options for which are being developed to deliver targeted Hybrid Navy capability enhancements supporting broader fleet modernisation efforts in the medium term.
Verdict: AMBER (30/100)
The reply's one question component was only partly answered. It explains that the Royal Navy plans by capability rather than one-for-one platform replacement and cites £200 million for offshore patrol vessels in the Defence Investment Plan. However, it does not name a specific replacement or mechanism for the Batch 1 gap in 2028, and its other points describe reviews and options still under development. The person who asked would likely need to follow up for a concrete answer on how the 2028 requirement will be met.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| How the Secretary of State intends to cover the capability requirement created by the retirement of OPV Batch 1 in 2028. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply explains that the Royal Navy plans by capability rather than platform-for-platform replacement and cites £200 million for OPVs in the Defence Investment Plan, but it never names a concrete mechanism or replacement that will cover the Batch 1 gap in 2028. The remaining statements are a review of future procurement and Hybrid Navy investment options still being developed, which are vague about how the 2028 requirement will be met. |