A Fleet Solid Support Ship is a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship designed to supply dry stores such as ammunition, explosives and food to Royal Navy shipsat sea. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary currently operates two Solid Support Ships, and.. With the introduction of the s a new class of ship will be required to replace the existing ageing ships. The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 confirmed that three new large Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability Solid Support Ships would be acquired for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, The National Shipbuilding Strategy stated that " The Fleet Solid Support ships will therefore be subject to an international competition which is due to complete by early 2020, in order to deliver ships from the mid-2020s." The Fleet Solid Support Ships are the last parts of the jigsaw in the generation of the UKCarrier Strike groups. On 26 September 2017 an 'Industry Day' was held in Bristol as the start of a 'Market Engagement Process' for a possible project to supply three 'Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability Fleet Solid Support Sea Going Vessels'. Rear Admiral Paul Marshall is the Senior Responsible Officer for the Solid Support Ship project. On 16 May 2018, a contract notice was placed for two solid support ships, with a probable option of a third later. The ships would have a total cargo capacity of up to, be able to travel at a sustained speed of without resupply and must be capable of delivering non-bulk logistic material whilst underway and making 12 knots through the water and transferring single loads of up to 5 tonnes. On 30 November 2018, the list of bidders for the contract was selected. The British consortium consists of companies Babcock, BAE Systems, Cammell Laird and Rolls-Royce while the international bidders are Fincantieri, Navantia, Japan Marine United Corporation, and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering. On 20 May 2019, Italy's Fincantieri and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering of Korea withdrew from the bid. However, Fincantieri re-entered the competition at the end of the same month. On 5 November 2019, the Daily Telegraph reported that the Defence Secretary will halt the order for the FSS "because bidders were 'not compliant' with commercial terms and not delivering on value for money expectations."
