Royal Navy's Frigate Count Declines to Five Following Iron Duke Withdrawal
The Royal Navy's operational frigate count has fallen to five after Iron Duke was effectively removed from service. This reduction raises concerns regarding the Navy's capacity to meet commitments before new Type 26 and Type 31 frigates are commissioned.
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Iron Duke has been rendered non-operational after being stripped of weapons and sensors, with no formal decommissioning announced. Following a £103 million refit that took 49 months and over 1.7 million man-hours, Iron Duke had not been at sea since October 2024.
Her withdrawal highlights the declining number of Type 23 frigates, leaving the Royal Navy increasingly stretched ahead of the arrival of Type 26 City-class frigates, five of which are currently under construction. With the Defence Investment Plan yet to be published, the sustainability of the Royal Navy's commitments remains uncertain until the new vessels are operational.
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