Give the keys of their war ships to Spain

While the shipyards in Ferrol continue to take giant steps to have the frigate of F110 class In the delivery planned by 2028, several hundred kilometers from there, in the surroundings of Cádiz, we also begin to work on the facilities of Navantia, who seems to move forward with a firm step to be in the world showcase as a reference construction company.

It is no small thing: United Kingdom has given him the keys to the future of his Navy.

A historical precedent. Yes, for the first time in recent history, a British war ship will be built largely outside the islands, with Spain as the main destination of manufacturing. The decision responds to the Harland & Wolff shipyards In Belfast, famous for having lifted the Titanicthey are not yet prepared to face a contract of 1.6 billion pounds Awarded in 2022.

The agreement, which from the beginning raised suspicion for the participation of Navantia, breaks with the tradition that the ships of the Royal Navy are built in the United Kingdom or in British territories, revealing Weaknesses of the country’s military industrial base.

The role of Navantia. The Spanish state company confirmed that most of the construction of the first logistical support ship of the Royal Navy will be carried out in its Cádiz shipyardsleaving Harland & Wolff only the construction of the bow at its Appleor headquarters, in England.

The centerpiece of the helmet, which should be manufactured in Belfast, will be executed in Spain along with the rest of the ship, which has aroused criticism of analysts That they warn that, if this precedent is consolidated, the three units could end up building in their entirety outside the United Kingdom. However, Navantia insists in which the plan is “realistic” and maintains that the three ships should be finally assembled in Belfast if everything follows its course, with delivery planned in 2032.

Industrial crisis and foreign investment. The truth is that Belfast’s inability to enter production up to at least 2026 has forced the initial plan. Navantia He has committed 115 million pounds in the modernization of the British shipyards, of which 90 will be used specifically to the support ship project.

The Spanish company He defends that this investment will provide Harland & Wolff for the necessary capacities to compete in future British naval contracts, such as the six amphibious assault ships and versatile support (MRSS) that the Navy contemplates acquire in the coming years. However, critical voices They point out thatalthough the British taxpayer pays a premium to sustain local shipyards, a substantial part of the added value is transferred to Spain.

Political controversy. No doubt, the agreement has divided opinions in the United Kingdom. Some accuse the Ministry of Defense of to have been deceived With the promise that the ships would be “made in Britain”, while unions like GMB and Unite have avoided ruling at the moment.

From Norirlandea politics, the reaction It has been pragmatic: The delay in Belfast is labeled, but it is accepted that having modernized facilities will allow competence of equal conditions in the future. For its part, Navantia Underline which is incorporating apprentices in the region and ensures the support of local workers.

The tradition of “Brisionh Build.” To understand the climate that is breathed with the news in the United Kingdom we must go back in time. Since the end of the 19th century already throughout the 20th century, the Royal Navy defended An unwavering principle: His warships had to be built on British soil, both for reasons of national security and to keep alive that strategic industrial fabric that was Pride of the country.

During The Victorian erashipyards such as Portsmouth, Devonport, Barrow-in-Furness or Belfast Harland & Wolff themselves became Naval power symbolscapable of producing battles, carriers and world reference submarines. Even in the moments of greater industrial globalization, London insisted In that the construction of combat ships should remain under national control, convinced that a war ship built abroad would be vulnerable to sovereignty commitments, industrial espionage or technological dependence.

The empire and autonomy. The United Kingdom maintained this policy even in times of economic difficulty. After World War II, when the imperial decline and the energy crises of the seventies eroded the British economy, it continued to bet on the local construction of frigates, destroyers and aircraft carrier.

The programs Invincible and Type 42developed between the seventies and eighty, they were built entirely in British shipyards, although at a high cost and with notable delays. London justified those expenses as an investment in Strategic autonomy: Ensure that, before a crisis, it did not depend on foreign suppliers to maintain the operation of their Navy.

National pride. In this context, Harland & Wolff In Belfast it occupied a symbolic place: not only and as we said, for having built the Titanic, but for being one of the large industrial centers in the United Kingdom. Your declineaccompanied by mass closures and loss of jobs, was seen as a symptom of the loss of British naval power.

For decades, successive British governments sought formulas to keep them alive through military contracts, aware that a shipyard who dies rarely resurrects. Hence, the news that a British warship was built mostly in Spain is perceived as a breakdown of a historical tradition and a symbolically painful concession.

Implications for the “British” defense. The three support ships that Today they are news (classified as warships since its conception in 2020) They are intended to provide ammunition, fuel and supplies to the British fleet in prolonged operations. Its strategic importance is considerable, at a time when Royal Navy seeks reinforce your ability expeditionary and guarantee logistics autonomy in high intensity scenarios.

Therefore, that much of its construction (time will say if the majority) is carried out in Spain reflects both the limitations of the British military naval industry and the growing European interdependence in defense. The episode marks a precedent that could influence future joint programs, but also feeds the debate on the loss of industrial sovereignty of the United Kingdom in an area as sensitive as military naval construction.

Image | Defense Imagery, Defense Imagery, Stavros1, Royal Navy

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