UK to spend £26 billion upgrading naval bases at Faslane, Portsmouth and Devonport

The UK government will spend £15 billion modernizing the Faslane naval base on the Clyde over the next decade as part of Project Royal Oak, The Bbc reported. A further £11 billion will go toward upgrades at the naval bases in Portsmouth and Devonport under the same program outlined in the recent Defence Investment Plan.

Faslane houses the UK's nuclear submarine fleet and serves as Scotland's largest military establishment with more than 6,500 military and civilian personnel.

The upgrades will add new training facilities, out-of-water engineering infrastructure, and research and development capacity at the three sites. Defence Minister Luke Pollard said the investment represents the largest commitment to the UK's naval bases since the end of the Cold War.

He stated it will increase the readiness, availability and lethality of the Royal Navy and added that the threats facing the United Kingdom are real and they are growing.

The Ministry of Defence has completed the purchase of the Finnart oil terminal on Loch Long to expand fuel storage capacity for the Royal Navy. The government will also invest £20 million to revitalise Inchgreen Marine Park near Greenock, one of the UK's largest operational dry docks.

Pollard confirmed more than £240 million in RAF sustainment contracts in Scotland expected to support over 380 jobs.

He said this government is not waiting and is acting now to ensure the Royal Navy has the bases and infrastructure it needs. Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie welcomed the record investment for its potential to strengthen armed forces capability in an increasingly dangerous and volatile world.