On Wednesday, 3 December 2025, the Spanish company Navantia announced that at its British shipyard operated by Navantia UK in Appledore, North Devon, England, a steel-cutting ceremony had been held for the first of three Fleet Solid Support (FSS) replenishment ships intended for the Royal Navy’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA).
Photos: Navantia
Participating in the ceremony on behalf of the customer was the UK Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, while Commodore Sam Shattock, Commander of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, revealed the name of the first ship – RFA Resurgent.
The ceremony was attended by Navantia UK employees, apprentices, and representatives of the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) agency, the RFA, the Royal Navy, the government, and industry. Also present were British suppliers involved in the FSS program as well as local companies supporting the Appledore shipyard.
Donato Martínez, Chief Executive Officer of Navantia UK, said:
“Across our yards, we have worked tirelessly to mark today’s milestone. It is a proud day for the whole team, whose commitment has brought us to this point. The FSS programme continues to deliver on two fronts: critical capability for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and long-term sovereign industrial capacity for the UK through investment in infrastructure, technology and skills. Today’s steel cut is evidence of what we have been saying all along. When we make a commitment to deliver, we do so.”
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP said:
“This is a significant moment as we begin the build of the RFA’s newest ship that will keep our Royal Navy ready to fight and able to deter future threats. By backing British shipbuilding, we are creating more than 1,200 skilled jobs in Devon, Belfast and beyond. This shows defence is as an engine for growth, boosting communities across the UK. In a new era of threat, we are investing more of a rising defence budget in new platforms and technologies.”
Commodore Sam Shattock, Commodore RFA, said:
“The ship is innovative, meets the latest environmental protection standards and is designed from the bottom up to deliver maritime sustainment as efficiently as possible. The construction will provide impetus to the UK ship building industry, supporting jobs and local economies at the various construction and assembly locations in the UK. I’m excited to watch this ship join the RFA flotilla and demonstrate its capabilities in due course. A true warfighting enabler for the Royal Navy of tomorrow.”
Keith Bethell, DE&S Director, Maritime Environment, said:
“This is a significant moment for everyone involved in the delivery of this programme. The FSS ships represent a major investment in the RFA’s ability to support frontline naval forces globally. Each vessel will serve as a crucial supply link for carrier-led operations, proudly built by skilled workers brought together for this shared mission.”
Image: UK Ministry Of Defence
It should be recalled that on 16 November 2022 the UK Ministry of Defence selected the proposal of the Team Resolute consortium in the relaunched FSS program, restarted in May 2021 and valued at 1.6 billion GBP. The production contract was signed on 18 January 2023. Subsequently, on 12 September 2024, the German company MAN Energy Solutions was chosen as the supplier of the propulsion systems.
The next-generation carrier strike group support ships will join the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and will replace the replenishment vessel RFA Fort Victoria (A387) of the Fort class, as well as the two support ships RFA Fort Rosalie (A385) and RFA Fort Austin (A386) of the Fort Rosalie class.
These will be the largest British ships apart from the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. Each will measure 216 meters in length, 34.5 meters in beam, and reach speeds of up to 19 knots. They will be capable of carrying 9,000 square meters of supplies (including ship and aviation fuel, various types of ammunition, spare parts, food, and fresh water). The crew will consist of 101 personnel, with accommodation for an additional 80 specialists. The ships will incorporate energy-efficient technologies in line with the Net Carbon Zero goal of reducing carbon footprint across 30 years of operation. All three units are to be delivered to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary by 2032.
🆕 Comienza la construcción del primer #buque #FSS para Reino Unido en el astillero de @Navantia_UK en #Appledore
•Los tres buques de apoyo logístico de 39.000 toneladas darán apoyo a los portaaviones de la @RoyalNavy https://t.co/lK53FJUiFY pic.twitter.com/Or4DXxJ9Yk
— Navantia (@NavantiaOficial) December 3, 2025
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