Navantia has begun construction of ship modules for the United Kingdom’s Fleet Solid Support (FSS) program at its Puerto Real shipyard in Cádiz, southwestern Spain, marking a major production milestone for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s future logistics vessels. The start of module fabrication signals the transition of the program from design into full-scale manufacturing.
The FSS program is being delivered through a multinational industrial partnership involving Navantia UK’s Appledore shipyard in England, Harland and Wolff in Belfast, and Navantia’s Spanish shipyards. Initial steel cutting for the vessels took place last month at the Appledore facility, while the Puerto Real yard is now contributing major structural sections that will later be transported to Northern Ireland for final assembly, integration, and testing.
The shift to production comes three years after the £1.6 billion ($2.1 billion) contract for three Fleet Solid Support ships was awarded. Once complete, the modules built in Spain will be shipped to Belfast, where the vessels will be assembled and prepared for delivery. The ships are scheduled to enter operational service by 2032.
Designed to sustain Royal Navy operations at sea, the Fleet Solid Support ships will be operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and play a critical role in supporting the UK Carrier Strike Group. Each vessel will be 216 meters long with a displacement of around 39,000 tons, making them the second-largest ships in the UK fleet after the aircraft carriers, capable of delivering ammunition, spare parts, fuel, food, and other essential supplies during extended deployments.
