Fast, Stealthy Troop Deployment, Commando Insertion Craft (CIC)
In May 2025, the UK’s MoD issued a formal procurement pipeline notice for the Commando Insertion Craft (CIC) initiative, marking a pivotal step in strengthening the Royal Marines’ littoral strike capability. With the notice published on 20 May 2025, the procurement timeline includes an expected invitation to tender by 1 December 2025, followed by contract award from 31 December 2026 through to December 2033.
The CICs are envisioned as fast (25+ knots), low-signature vessels with extended ranges (circa 150 nautical miles). Their purpose is multifaceted: deploying strike teams, EOD units, reconnaissance assets, and unmanned vehicles from sea or shorelines with stealth and precision. Though exact numbers and costs aren’t public, earlier projections suggest around 20 vessels, with a likely total investment of at least £190 million, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to agile maritime warfare.
Designed as modular platforms, CICs will integrate with existing ship classes like the Albion-class and Littoral Strike Ships, and support unmanned systems, making them flexible, upgradeable assets capable of adaptation as threats evolve. This procurement also encourages UK SMEs to innovate in hull design, propulsion systems, and electronics, mounting a new wave of marine manufacturing capability.
Ensuring Operational Backbone, Serco’s £1 Billion Support Contract
On 15 May 2025, Serco was awarded three interlinked contracts by the MoD totalling over £1 billion, securing support for major Royal Navy bases and offshore operations from later in 2025 for a decade.
The £850 million in-port services contract spans HMNB Devonport (Plymouth), Portsmouth, and Faslane (Clyde). Serco will oversee harbour towage, crew transfers, barge and tank cleaning, and commission 24 new harbour vessels within ten years to replace ageing craft.
A £70 million five-year contract focuses on inshore training support at the British Underwater Test & Evaluation Centre (BUTEC). It includes diver assistance, range safety, and aircrew training delivered alongside Briggs Marine.
The £110 million offshore support package funds two specialised ocean-going vessels to assist with sea trials, exercises, and global deployments over ten years.
Strategic Synergy: Tactical Agility Meets Logistical Assurance
These two procurement strands form a powerful symbiosis in naval readiness. CICs add a swift, tactical edge, enabling covert insertions and mission flexibility. Serco’s services, on the other hand, guarantee port throughput, vessel readiness, and minimal downtime, essential for keeping submarines, surface ships, and insertion craft on high operational tempo.
By securing a reliable harbour infrastructure alongside new craft acquisitions, the MoD ensures that every deployed asset, from stealth boats to nuclear vessels, operates without logistical friction. This balance between offensive delivery and support reliability turns strategic ambition into sustained action.
Industrial Benefits: Skills, Jobs & Expertise
The dual programmes promise significant industrial impact. CIC contracts, likely awarded to UK shipyards, will stir demand for small-craft design, electronics integration, and software innovations, nurturing agile SMEs. Serco’s vessel replacement plan supports traditional marine engineering, with 24 new crew boats and tugs boosting regional employment and supply chain activity.
In combination with ongoing SDR-driven procurement (e.g., submarines, munitions, AI), these investments feed a stabilised defence industrial base. Training contracts and boat commissioning drive year-on-year work in communities like Plymouth, Portsmouth, and the Clyde, safeguarding maritime-sector skilled jobs and knowledge transfer.
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Serco workers plan to strike over UK navy contract negotiations
