The UK Ministry of Defense has removed the Automatic Small Calibre Gun requirement from the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) manufacturing contract with Navantia UK, resulting in a £1.704 million constructive loss.
The decision was disclosed by Defense Minister Luke Pollard in a written parliamentary answer on September 7, following a question on the specific nature of the loss recorded in the Ministry of Defense’s 2025–26 annual report and accounts.
According to Pollard, the gun requirement was removed because it no longer aligns with the Royal Navy’s most likely future gun solution. The change forms part of a broader gun rationalization effort intended to reduce the number of gun variants operated across the fleet and increase commonality.
"The RN gun rationalisation programme, introduced since the FSS manufacture contract was placed, aims to reduce the number of gun variants and bring commonality across the RN's Fleet, providing longer term value for money," Pollard said.
The Automatic Small Calibre Gun requirement had formed part of the manufacturing contract for the FSS ships being delivered under the UK-Spanish shipbuilding program. Removing it from the contract has generated a financial loss because work or commitments associated with the requirement can no longer be retained within the program.
The Ministry of Defense described the £1.704 million as a constructive loss, but said that accepting the loss now is expected to avoid potentially greater costs later.
"Although this decision has resulted in some financial loss, changing the requirement now avoids incurring greater losses at a later stage, associated with fitting and then replacing an incompatible system," Pollard added.
The change is intended to preserve flexibility as the Royal Navy works toward a more standardized gun portfolio. According to the Ministry of Defence, the approach is also intended to support the fleet’s future warfighting readiness and deterrence.
The FSS program covers three new replenishment ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The vessels are intended to provide ammunition, stores and other supplies to Royal Navy carrier strike groups and other deployed forces, supporting sustained operations at sea.
Recently, RFA Resurgent, the first of three Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships being delivered to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, has reached a key construction milestone with its keel laid at Navantia UK’s Appledore shipyard.
During the keel-laying ceremony for RFA Resurgent, head of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Commodore Sam Shattock, revealed the second and third vessels would be named RFA Reliant and RFA Resourceful.