Key decisions await RN (Opinion)
HMS Queen Elizabeth returned to Portsmouth on 9 December following its maiden deployment in Carrier Strike Group 21. (Photo: UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
Perhaps the most important part of Adm Sir Ben Key’s tenure as First Sea Lord will not be the immediate RN of today, but setting the conditions for the navy of the future.
As the new head of the RN, First Sea Lord (FSL) Adm Sir Ben Key inherits a force that, on paper, has undergone significant transformation and appears well placed to deliver maritime force on behalf of the UK government.
With new ships, a strong building programme and stable funding in place, in theory his tenure in the role should be straightforward. Look deeper, though, and there appear to be a range of potentially significant challenges ahead, all of which could cause real disruption.
The defining buzzword of his predecessor Adm Sir Tony Radakin (now Chief of the Defence Staff) during
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 2 free stories per week
- Daily news round-up email service
- Access to all Decisive Edge email newsletters
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Russian vessels exercise in English Channel and off Irish coast]()
Russian vessels exercise in English Channel and off Irish coast
One of the vessels present in both cases was armed with hypersonic cruise missiles.
-
![Australia narrows SEA 3000 frigate designs to TKMS and MHI]()
Australia narrows SEA 3000 frigate designs to TKMS and MHI
Two modular frigate designs will be considered as the replacement to Australia’s ageing Anzac-class.
-
![Latest Arleigh Burke destroyer commissioned]()
Latest Arleigh Burke destroyer commissioned
The vessel, DDG 122, will be named after enlisted marine John Basilone.
-
![Kongsberg awarded $960 million missile contract]()
Kongsberg awarded $960 million missile contract
The contract could rise to as much as US$1.1 billion and follows an announcement last month that Kongsberg was building a missile production facility in the US to meet burgeoning global demand.
-
![New US Navy batteries are deemed submarine-safe]()
New US Navy batteries are deemed submarine-safe
The use of Passive Propagation Technology significantly reduces the risk of Lithium-ion batteries for use in torpedo tube launched AUVs.
-
![BAE Systems’ Herne XLAUV set to hunt for underwater intelligence]()
BAE Systems’ Herne XLAUV set to hunt for underwater intelligence
The Herne is modular, highly configurable underwater autonomous platform, with potential for both ISR missions in the short term and self-determined assistance surveillance later.
