The sun never set on the British Empire, but it looks like the sun is soon setting on the British Royal Navy.
The island nation never went to war without a strong naval force, and it kept up a global Blue Water Navy for centuries. Now, the Royal Navy is a skeleton of itself and has suffered years of neglect and underfunding.
The British Navy is not equipped to address modern threats. Its two aircraft carriers are struggling, and the rest of the fleet could be overwhelmed by an adversarial force.
Fighting with a ‘Boutique Force’
The Royal Navy is now a “boutique fighting force.” After the Cold War ended and a global peace dividend was evident in the West, many democracies cut defense spending. The Royal Navy was not immune to these budgetary constraints for the last 30 years of relative peace.
Now, the stakes are higher. The Russians invaded Ukraine and continued to threaten NATO members. Britain’s navy is not ready for an emergency contingency that would necessitate a naval showdown with Russia. There is also China’s power grabs in the East and South China Seas to worry about.
What Happened to the Global Projection of Sea Power?
Under Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the British navy was supposed to have a $32 billion “Global Britain” strategy that would enable the country to have a Blue Water Navy again that could even deploy in the Indo-Pacific. But that went by the wayside with changing political leadership.
“The Royal Navy has been plagued by a myriad of project delays, cost overruns, cancellations and workforce challenges undermining the capability of the fleet to protect the United Kingdom’s interests and project British power abroad,” according to Defense Connect.
Deterrence Without Breaking the Bank
The Royal Navy needs to be able to patrol the European areas of the North Atlantic and employ force the way a modern navy is expected to. There is a way to square the circle between the needs of homeland defense and deterrence during tightening defense budgets.
There is a strength despite all of the weaknesses. Britain has a capable submarine force with Vanguard-class nuclear missile subs and the Astute-class fast attack boats for land attack and surface warfare.
It Starts with the Aircraft Carriers
The aircraft carriers are having problems with the HMS Queen Elizabeth and the HMS Prince of Wales not living up to their potential. They are vulnerable to anti-ship missiles. These flat-tops need more aircraft, and one remedy is to increase the number of F-35Bs from 72 to 90, allowing for three full squadrons.
The British Navy also lacks committed Airborne Early Warning aircraft. One idea is for these duties to be carried out by intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance drones. The carriers also need the SeaRAM ship defense systems. These can fire up to 11 Rolling Air Frame Missile interceptors to better protect the floating air bases.
How to Save the Royal Navy
The surface fleet is a mess. There are not enough ships, they are too old, and the offensive and defensive weapons systems onboard are insufficient. More Mk 41 vertical launching systems must be installed on destroyers and frigates. The Type 83 replacement destroyer program must be better funded and executed. The Type 45 guided missile destroyer fleet should be expanded from six to eight ships.
The current frigate force needs more lethality and survivability. The Type 26 frigate program requires attention and more funding, and the Royal Navy should acquire at least two more Type 26 frigates.
The Royal Navy should also emphasize the need to recruit and retain more sailors. Living conditions on board existing ships should be improved. There is a human capital shortage in the maritime service branch, and this necessitates the full attention of the Ministry of Defense.
The British government and the public need to understand the challenges the Royal Navy faces. Policymakers should articulate the importance of having a full fleet that can address threats in the Euro-Atlantic and even in the Indo-Pacific.
It is not too late to save the fleet. More attention and budget dollars can help solve the problems.
Still, it must be a government priority to convince the voters that taxpayer money going to the Navy is a worthwhile investment to meet future defense objectives.
Where is the robust naval strategy that must come from the top? It seems like Keir Starmer’s government is doing everything but providing for the common defense of the nation. Having such a dilapidated fleet is a dangerous sign that signals the entire defense force is in decline.
The British people should not accept this, and cutting the navy’s budget is not in the country’s national interest. The way forward will be difficult but political leadership can address the shortcomings.
The Royal Navy may be hollowed out, but there is a way to save it: more airplanes and better surface ships to supplement a decent submarine force. The sun should not set on the navy.
It will just take policymakers who understand the importance of maritime strength and the willpower to act on it.
The Royal Navy: A Story in Photos
Vanguard-Class Submarine Royal Navy
The Dreadnought-class is the future replacement for the Vanguard-class of ballistic missile submarines.
Nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard arrives back at HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane, Scotland following a patrol.
Nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard arrives back at HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane, Scotland following a patrol in 2010.
Vanguard-class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Vanguard-Class Submarine of Royal Navy. Image: Creative Commons.
Dreadnought-Class Submarine. Image: Creative Commons.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
