Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Power Improvement Project for HMS Dauntless has taken 21 months so far, instead of the planned six to eight months.

HMS DAUNTLESS is the first of class to undergo Power Improvement Project (PIP) conversion. The next phase of the programme will see HMS DAUNTLESS undertake a rigorous harbour trials programme, before returning to sea later this year for sea trials.

The PIP conversion is a complex engineering project and delivering it against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic has been a significant challenge which has impacted the schedule.

The lessons learned from the first of class PIP conversion will be applied to subsequent ships, whilst taking into account that the programme is balanced against the Royal Navy's standing and future operational commitments. It is planned that all six Type 45 ships will have received the PIP conversion by 2028.