The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) will invite international companies to collaborate with local firms under a competitive tender process for the procurement of new fleet support ships for the Royal Navy.
The Fleet Solid Support tender, which will be formally launched in the spring of 2021, calls for "a significant portion" of the build and assembly work to be carried out in the UK.
Although international companies will be invited to participate in the tender, the MOD clarified that the chosen manufacturing team must be led by a British company.
The primary role of the new vessels is to provide supplies and technical support for the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers.
