Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is his assessment of the potential impact of retro-fitting Mk41 VLS to Type 31 on the effectiveness of the Royal Navy’s active frigate fleet in the late 2020s.

The Royal Navy is pursuing the integration of the Mk41 Vertical Launching System to enhance the future lethality, flexibility and adaptability of the surface fleet. Work is progressing to assess the options, timing and costs associated with fitting the Mk41 Vertical Launching System to the Type 31 class as part of the Mk41 adaptability pathway.