Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure there are a total of 19 RN Type 26 frigate vessels by 2030.

The Royal Navy is making substantial progress towards deploying autonomous systems alongside crewed platforms to increase the lethality of the fleet and deliver the SDR recommendations

The Royal Navy has two frigate acquisition programmes that will ensure surface fleet capabilities are sustained. The current Type 23 Duke Class frigates will be replaced by eight Type 26 City Class frigates and five Type 31 Inspiration Class frigates. Type 26 frigates are expected to enter service from 2028 onwards, and all Type 31s are expected to be in service by the early 2030s. The Royal Navy is also continuing to make significant investment in its six Daring Class destroyers, the Type 45, to enhance and sustain the class into the late 2030s.