The Royal Navy is preparing to revolutionise its maritime air defence with the ambitious Future Air Dominance System (FADS), a vast, complex programme set to redefine the UK’s naval power from the late 2030s.
FADS is not just a new ship, but a portfolio of cutting-edge projects designed to tackle the rapidly evolving missile and drone threats now dominating global conflict zones such as the Red Sea, Gulf, Israel, and Ukraine. This shift follows the growing menace of hypersonic weapons, ballistic missiles, and swarms of uncrewed systems, which legacy platforms struggle to counter.
At the heart of FADS is the Type 83 destroyer, envisaged as a heavily armed and highly integrated warship, capable of eliminating threats at their source rather than simply intercepting them mid-flight, a limitation of the current Type 45 destroyers.
What is FADS?
Described by its senior responsible owner as a “mega-programme”, FADS combines Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) with Long-Range Precision Strike (LRPS) capability. Its design follows a System of Systems Approach (SOSA), moving beyond standalone ships to a networked fleet using shared sensor data from ships, aircraft, satellites, and allied forces.
This will allow weapon launches to be coordinated across different vessels, including Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, with possibilities for distributed missile launch systems on auxiliary ships. Concepts such as the so-called ‘arsenal ship’ are also under consideration, embodied in the idea of the Type 91 missile barge, an optionally crewed platform providing additional firepower to complement the Type 83.
FADS will serve as the primary air defence shield for the UK Carrier Strike Group and future Littoral Strike capabilities, as well as contributing to UK and European air defence.
Progress and Challenges
While FADS is the Royal Navy’s “highest priority future capability,” it currently remains in the concept phase, awaiting the much-delayed Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and a subsequent Government Command Paper that will clarify its funding.
The Strategic Outline Business Case has been approved and included in the Government’s Major Project Portfolio. Full business cases for both the host platform and lethality systems will be submitted to the Treasury by 2026 and 2027 respectively.
The Navy has begun engaging with industry to stimulate innovation and readiness for the complex project. Elements of FADS are already trickling into the fleet through upgrades like the Sea Viper Evolution programme and the integration of Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells into Type 31 frigates. BAE Systems has secured £285 million for the RECODE project, which will upgrade combat management systems crucial to FADS.
The Type 83 Destroyer: A Force to Reckon With
The Type 83 destroyer is set to be a substantial vessel, displacing between 6,000 and 10,000 tonnes. Equipped with a significantly expanded missile load of between 70 and 128 Mk 41 vertical launch cells, it signals the end of the Royal Navy’s reliance on the French-Italian Sylver VLS system.
This standardisation allows a flexible mix of weapons, integrating UK, US, and NATO munitions. Among these, the Aster-30 missile is likely to feature, adapted for Mk 41 launchers, alongside the possibility of quad-packed Sea Ceptor (CAMM) and dual-packed CAMM-ER missiles.
On the radar front, the Type 83 will boast a large, flat-panel active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system, capable of detecting everything from hypersonic missiles to stealth drones and sea-skimming threats.
The ship is being designed to support future technologies such as directed energy weapons, including lasers, with advanced power generation systems to meet their demands.
Smarter, Faster, More Connected Warfare
A key innovation of FADS is the introduction of Force-Level Target Evaluation and Weapon Assignment (FTEWA). This system replaces traditional platform-by-platform targeting with a force-wide engagement logic that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimise target selection and weapon assignment across the fleet, all at machine speed.
This will allow human operators to oversee rather than micromanage engagements, a crucial advantage against saturation missile attacks.
Timelines and Costs
The Royal Navy aims for initial operating capability of the Type 83 by 2035, coinciding with the planned retirement of the first Type 45 destroyer. However, many defence experts consider this timeline optimistic given the complexity and industrial constraints.
Financially, the programme is expected to be eye-wateringly expensive. The Type 45 programme cost around £6.46 billion up to 2013; factoring in inflation and increased system complexity, FADS could realistically cost at least 2.5 times more.
While the Navy aspires to build eight Type 83 ships, the final number is likely to be closer to six. For FADS to meaningfully contribute to UK and European air defence long-term, acquiring more ships would be advantageous.
Final Thoughts
FADS represents a critical investment for the Royal Navy, positioning the UK as a front-line maritime power ready for the challenges of modern warfare. The evolving threats of hypersonic missiles and drone swarms demand nothing less than a fleet built on integration, cutting-edge technology, and sheer firepower.
Despite budget pressures, the Navy’s resolve to deliver a revolutionary air defence system is clear, and the stakes for Britain’s maritime security have never been higher.
