HC Deb 14 January 1997 vol 288 cc223-4W
22. Dr. Spink

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what upgrades are planned in Royal Navy fighting capabilities. [8992]

Mr. Arbuthnot

To maintain the Royal Navy as one of the world's most modern, able fighting forces, the capabilities afforded by its equipment are kept under regular review. A number of key projects are planned to enter service during the next decade, including six further type 23 frigates; two further Trident class SSBNs—strategic submarine ballistic nuclear; seven further single role minehunters; the landing platform helicopter, HMS Ocean; the two landing platform docks (replacement), HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark; the EH101 Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopter; the batch 2 Trafalgar class submarine to succeed the Swiftsure class; the Tomahawk land attack missile; and the common new

generation frigate, which will replace the air defence capabilities of our type 42 destroyers. In addition, improvements are planned to a range of weapons and equipment fitted to RN submarines and surface ships to ensure that they maintain their operational capability into the next century.