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Future of the Royal Navy

Future planning of the Royal Navy's capabilities is set through periodic Defence Reviews carried out by the British Government. The Royal Navy's role in the 2020s, and beyond, is outlined in the 2021 defence white paper, which was published on 22 March 2021. The white paper is one component of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, titled as Global Britain in a Competitive Age which was published on 16 March 2021.

The National Audit Office (NAO) has, for a considerable period of time, described the Ministry of Defence's equipment plan as "unaffordable". As late as January 2021 the NAO reported that the Royal Navy had the largest shortfall of the three services at £4.3 billion over the 2020 to 2030 period. To address some of these gaps, in November 2020, the Prime Minister announced the first outcome of the defence review by pledging increased funding in the range of £16.5 billion over four years to stabilise the defence budget and to provide new funding for space, cyber and research activities. A plan to construct a new class of frigate, the Type 32 frigate, was also announced with five vessels envisaged and likely entering service starting in the early 2030s, though many other details about the program remain to be decided, even following publication of the March 2021 defence white paper. The British government plans to increase the Royal Navy's fleet to 24 frigates and destroyers, perhaps achieving that objective by the mid-2030s.

In March 2023, a further £5 billion in funding was announced as part of a defence policy "refresh" exercise to "help replenish and bolster vital ammunition stocks, modernise the UK's nuclear enterprise and fund the next phase of the AUKUS submarine programme". However, in December 2023 the NAO again described the MoD's defence plan for 2023-2033 as "unafforadble" and some £16.9 billion over budget. Forecast costs for the Navy were reported to have risen by £16.4 billion (or 41%). Spending decisions were expected to be made during the next spending review in 2024, at which point more funding might be allocated or other decisions taken. In April 2024, Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP (or £81 billion) by 2030. The Labour Party pledged to raise defence spending to the same level.

, the following major vessels are under construction: the final two of seven Astute-class submarines; the first three of four Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarines, the first four of eight Type 26 frigates; and three of the five Type 31 frigates. Additional replenishment vessels were on order for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Royal Navy
The following is a list of vessels ordered, under construction or undergoing sea trials within the United Kingdom, and destined for the Royal Navy:

Royal Fleet Auxiliary
The following is a list of vessels ordered for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary:

 * Note: "TBC" means "to be confirmed"

Destroyers and frigates
In the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) a replacement programme was authorised for the Navy's fleet of thirteen Type 23 frigates. In 2012, BAE Systems Naval Ships was awarded a contract to design the replacement, known as the Type 26 Global Combat Ship (GCS). It was planned that two variants of the class would be built: five general purpose frigates and eight anti-submarine warfare frigates. According to estimates as of 2022, the first Type 26 frigate is to commission in late 2026 and the last commissioning in around 2034, whilst the Type 23s are gradually phased out. However, in October 2022, the Secretary of Defence, Ben Wallace, indicated that Initial Operating Capability for the first ship in the class would only be reached in 2028. Eight Type 26 frigates will be built. The five remaining ships will be covered by a new class of lighter, flexible general purpose frigate, known as the Type 31e frigate or General Purpose Frigate (GPFF).

The slower than planned introduction of both the Type 26 and Type 31, coupled with the pending retirement dates for the Type 23, is creating a risk that Royal Navy frigate numbers could decline in the 2020s to as few as 8 frigates. Reductions were partly confirmed in the 2021 defence white paper with the announcement that two of the Type 23s would, in fact, be retired early. Nevertheless, the at sea availability of ships (both destroyers and frigates) within this smaller force was projected as likely increasing as vessels completed their life extension refits. By the latter 2020s and 2030s it had been anticipated that overall numbers could rise again as the replacement vessels enter service. In 2021 in a written answer provided to the House of Commons Select Defence Committee, the First Sea Lord, Admiral Tony Radakin, suggested that older Type 23 frigates would be retained in service longer than anticipated in order to ensure that escort numbers did not fall below 17 ships (6 destroyers and 11 frigates) and start to rise back above 19 escorts starting in the latter 2020s. The objective of the 2021 white paper was to have 24 frigates and destroyers in service by the "early 2030s", though some argued that a date of 2035 was more likely. This is to be achieved through the construction of yet another class of frigate, the Type 32.

However, as of 2023 the Royal Navy is experiencing significant recruiting challenges with a net drop of some 1,600 personnel (4 percent of the force) from mid-2022 to mid-2023. This was posing a significant problem in the ability of the navy to meet its commitments. Reports in early 2024 suggested that this may in fact contribute to the early retirement of some vessels, including the oldest Type 23 frigates. In May 2024, it was indicated that two frigates, HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll, would indeed be retired reducing the total number of active frigates to nine.

In November 2020, the first decisions of the Integrated Review were announced which included a pledge to construct the Type 32 frigate. No further details were included but the announcement was made in the context of restoring the United Kingdom as "the foremost naval power in Europe" and to "spur a shipbuilding renaissance". Later, the 2021 white paper indicated that the Type 32 was to be "designed to protect territorial waters, provide persistent presence overseas and support our Littoral Response Groups". In November 2020, the Ministry of Defence described the ship as a platform for autonomous systems, such as anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures. As of late 2022, the Type 32 frigate project was reported to be facing significant funding pressures. The November 2022 report of the National Audit Office on The Equipment Plan 2022-2032 stated that in July 2022 "Navy Command withdrew its plans for Type 32 frigates and MRSS because of concerns about unaffordability. The revised costing profile is likely to be significantly higher".

The March 2021 defence white paper also announced that a new class of air defence destroyer, the Type 83, would be designed to replace the Type 45 destroyer with the aim of achieving initial delivery in the latter 2030s. In the interim, in July 2021 it was announced that the Type-45 destroyers would be upgraded through the addition of 24 cells for the Sea Ceptor surface-to-air missile system. The Type-45s were reported as likely to be incrementally upgraded between 2026 and 2032.

Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic Capability (MHC)
The 2015 SDSR specified that only 12 mine-counter measure vessels were planned to exist in Joint Force 2025. The three oldest Sandown-class minehunters were decommissioned. At one point it was anticipated that the UK and France would collaborate on a Maritime Mine Counter Measures project. At DESI 2017, the First Sea Lord mentioned that the Royal Navy aimed to accelerate the incremental delivery of future mine countermeasures and hydrographic capability (MHC) programme.

All of these plans notwithstanding, in 2020 the parliamentary National Audit Office (NAO) noted that no funding had been allocated in the 2019 to 2029 period to replace the Navy's mine countermeasures capability. The 2021 defence white paper subsequently confirmed that all existing MCMV vessels would be phased out in the 2020s and replaced by autonomous systems.

Preliminary measures were taken to equip the Royal navy with autonomous minehunting systems and in May 2015, a contract was signed with Atlas Elektronik UK to supply Unmanned surface vessels (USVs) of their ARCIMS system for autonomous mine clearance. The first boat delivered under this contract was the optionally-manned RNMB Hazard, which took part in Exercise Unmanned Warrior 16. She was followed by the autonomous RNMB Hussar in 2018 and RNMB Harrier in August 2020, by which time they came under Project Wilton within the First Mine Counter Measures Squadron at HMNB Clyde. RNMB Hebe, which arrived in 2021, is longer - 15 m instead of 11 m - to accommodate a Portable Operations Centre Afloat that allows her to control Harrier and Hazard while also co-ordinating autonomous operations.

Further components in the Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Program include the U.K.-French MCM program, which is to deliver four sets of systems (each of which includes: a Portable Operation Center (POC), Two Thales / L3Harris 12-metre Unmanned Surface Vessels - USVs -, a towed Synthetic Aperture Multiviews (T-SAM) vehicle and a Multi-Shot Mine Neutralisation System (MuMNS)). In April 2022 a further contract was awarded to AEUK to supply nine SeaCat UUVs as part of the MHC project. SeaCat can be deployed from a variety of platforms down to the size of the Sea-class workboat.

Following on the Prime Minister's announcement in late 2020 of enhanced funding for the Ministry of Defence, Jeremy Quin, Minister of State for Defence Procurement, indicated on 30 November 2020, in response to a parliamentary question, that the envisaged Type 32 frigate would, in part, replace the current mine countermeasures ships and act as a "mothership" for the Navy's future unmanned mine countermeasures capabilities, as well as serving as a platform for anti-submarine warfare. Specifically, he said "... it is envisioned that Type 32 will be a platform for autonomous systems, adding to the Navy's capabilities for missions such as anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures". Type 32, as well as other platforms, could potentially carry a new autonomous system, which itself was announced on 26 November 2020 as being acquired through a joint production contract with France. This system employs three sets of equipment with each set comprising a portable operation centre, an autonomous surface vessel, towed sonar and a mine neutralization system.

In 2023, as part of the MHC program, a commercial vessel, the former offshore support vessel MV Island Crown, was acquired for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary to act as a trials platform to further develop the concept for using motherships to support autonomous mine hunting systems. The new vessel, named RFA Stirling Castle, was to be based at the Clyde naval base. The ship was purchased for 40 million pounds and arrived at HMNB Devonport for a quick conversion to the role in January 2023. In due course up to three additional ships will also be acquired for the mine countermeasures command and support role, one of which is intended to replace RFA Cardigan Bay and some of the other vessels in 9th Mine Counter-Measures Squadron operating from HMS Jufair in Bahrain. Cardigan Bay would then be returned to a primary amphibious operations role. The replacement vessels may either be conversions of existing commercial vessels or, as reportedly preferred by the navy, new-build ships.

Future amphibious capability
The 2021 defence white paper outlined a proposal related to the composition of the Royal Navy's future amphibious capability. It was subsequently indicated that Navy's Albion-class assault ships, as well as the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's Bay-class landing ships and RFA Argus, would be replaced by a new class of up to six Multi Role Support Ships (MRSS). These vessels superseded an earlier plan, announced by the former Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson in February 2019, that the Royal Navy would purchase two commercial ships and develop them into Littoral Strike Ships.

The new MRSS vessels were envisaged as having the utility to transport and deliver troops, vehicles, equipment and supplies from anywhere in the world in support of amphibious warfare and littoral manoeuvre. They were envisaged as incorporating a "mix of ship-to-shore offloading and logistics capabilities allow support to naval operations through landing craft, boat operations, multi-spot aviation and replenishment at sea". As of late 2022, the Multi-Role Support Ships were reported to be facing significant funding pressures. The November 2022 report of the National Audit Office on The Equipment Plan 2022-2032 stated that in July 2022 "Navy Command withdrew its plans for Type 32 frigates and MRSS because of concerns about unaffordability. The revised costing profile is likely to be significantly higher". In June 2023, the British and Dutch governments announced that the two countries would "explore opportunities" to jointly develop new specialist amphibious warships. However, that idea was subsequently dropped and in May 2024, the defence secretary, Grant Shapps, stated that the U.K. would build its vessels independently with three MRSS vessels to be built initially together with a plan for up to three additional ships.

The 2021 white paper had announced that, in the interim, one of the three Bay-class vessels would be converted to a Littoral Strike Ship (LSS) and fitted with permanent hangars as well as incorporating other upgrades. In May 2022, it was indicated that Lyme Bay was likely to be selected for the role. However, the planned conversion was subsequently delayed, with, in July 2022, reports appearing that the future Littoral Strike Role would now be assumed by RFA Argus. This followed an announcement that Argus would be retained until at least the early 2030s.

In 2023 it was reported that the Royal Navy and Marines were seeking a replacement for the LCVP Mk 5 landing craft with the objective of securing service entry by 2027. The new Commando Insertion Craft were to have a low signature and be able to carry a strike team and small vehicle over a distance of 150 miles at a speed of 25 knots. A production contract was reportedly envisaged by 2025.

Multi Role Ocean Surveillance ship
The 2021 defence white paper announced an intent to acquire a Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance ship (MROSS). The ship was planned to enter service in 2024 and was planned to be "fitted with advanced sensors and to carry a number of remotely operated and autonomous undersea drones to collect data to help protect our people and way of life with operations in UK and international waters". It was envisaged as necessary to protect undersea cable links to the UK.

In November 2022, the Ministry of Defence announced that the programme would be accelerated using funds gained through the cancellation of the National Flagship, a vessel which was to be used by the monarch and government officials to promote UK interests abroad. The MOD also confirmed that the first MROSS vessel would enter service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 2023. In February 2023, the first vessel for this role - MV Topaz Tangaroa - was acquired. She was purchased for some 70 million pounds and converted to act as a mothership for autonomous systems and with military communications and light defensive armament added. She entered service as RFA Proteus in October 2023. A second MROS ship is envisaged, which may be a new build vessel and, as of 2023, is in the concept stage. In 2023 it was reported that the second ship in the series is likely to replace the current ocean survey ship, HMS Scott (H131), which is to be extended in service until 2033.

Unmanned Surface Vessels
Maritime Autonomy Surface Testbed (MAST) 13 is a collaboration between DSTL and L3Harris Technologies. In September 2019, Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace unveiled the MAST-13 (since renamed Madfox), an autonomous unmanned surface vehicle that would be attached to a BAE Systems PAC24 rigid inflatable boat and protect surface ships. HMS Argyll (F231) was involved in the demonstration. On 24 June 2020, the Royal Navy announced that the first unmanned Pacific 24 boat has been launched. On 1 June 2021, the Madfox ASV successfully completed remote trials from range in the Solent, with personnel operating the vessel from the nearby coastline.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ships
The 2015 SDSR confirmed that three new large fleet solid support ships would be acquired for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary under the Fleet Solid Support Ship Programme to replace the single-hulled RFA Fort Victoria, which entered service in 1994, and RFA Fort Rosalie and RFA Fort Austin (both dating from the late 1970s). The ships were originally expected to enter service in the mid-2020s. The 2017 National Shipbuilding Strategy confirm this, noting that the Fleet Solid Support ships would be subjected to an international competition and be delivered by the mid-2020s.

However, late in 2019 this competition was stopped in the face of criticism that the competition permitted the potential construction of the ships outside the UK. The competition was anticipated as likely to be restarted with revised terms of reference. On 21 October 2020, it was indicated that the competition for the FSS will be restarted in Spring 2021, covering three ships and it will be an international competition but the team must be a led by a British company. The 2021 defence white paper confirmed that three FSSS would be built. In May 2021 the competition to build the ships was relaunched with the aim of taking a decision within two years. In July 2022, Rear-Admiral Paul Marshall, the Senior Responsible Officer for the Fleet Solid Support ship project, told the House of Commons Select Defence Committee that the first ship was envisaged for service entry in 2028 with the third entering service by 2032. However, subsequently the Ministry of Defence indicated that the first ship would in fact not be operational until 2031. In November 2022 it was announced that Team Resolute (BMT, Harland & Wolff and Navantia) had been selected to build the ships with the start of construction anticipated in 2025. The manufacturing contract, with a value of 1.6 billion pounds, was signed in January 2023.

The SDSR did not mention any current plans to replace RFA Diligence which at the time was scheduled to go out of service in 2020 but was laid up and advertised for sale in 2016, or RFA Argus which was originally scheduled to go out of service in 2024. A parliamentary reply on 21 March 2016 noted that "The consideration of options to deliver the capabilities provided by RFA Diligence and RFA Argus remains ongoing". An August 2016 notice stated that Diligence was placed up for sale, and that the MOD was considering options for a replacement. The 2021 defence white paper was silent on a specific replacement for either vessel, essentially confirming that the enhanced aviation capabilities eventually envisaged as being provided by the mooted Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSS), would be the de facto replacement for Argus though the first MRSS might not actually enter service until the 2030s. In 2022, it was confirmed that Argus would in fact be extended in service "beyond 2030".

In addition to its existing capabilities, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary is also assuming responsibility both for the new MROSS capability, with a vessel purchased for that purpose, RFA Proteus, and the acquisition of another ship, RFA Stirling Castle, to serve as an autonomous mine-hunting command and control vessel.

Astute-class nuclear attack submarine
In 1997 the MOD signed a contract with GEC-Marconi (now BAE Systems Submarine Solutions) to deliver a new class of nuclear powered attack submarines to the Royal Navy. This class was intended to replace the five remaining boats of the ageing Swiftsure-class submarine, as well as the oldest two boats of the Trafalgar-class submarine. However delays led to the construction of only seven Astute-class, thereby replacing only the Trafalgar-class de facto. The first-in-class HMS Astute was laid down in January 2001 and commissioned into the fleet in August 2010, followed by her sisters HMS Ambush (2013), HMS Artful (2016), HMS Audacious (2020) and HMS Anson (2022). As of August 2022, five of the boats have been commissioned and two are under construction. The entry into service of the seventh boat is planned for 2026.

The Astute-class are much larger than their predecessors and have greatly improved stealth, endurance and weapons load. Each submarine is capable of carrying up to 38 Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.

Dreadnought-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine
In July 2016 it was confirmed that a new class of submarine would be built to replace the current fleet of 4 Vanguard-class submarine ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) which carry the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent. On 18 July 2016 the House of Commons voted 472 for and 117 against to proceed to build the new submarines. On 21 October 2016, the MoD announced that the first of the four planned boats would be named HMS Dreadnought, with the name also attached to the class. Construction of Dreadnought had commenced by 2017. On 6 December 2018, the second boat of this class was named as HMS Valiant. The final two boats of the class have been named HM Submarines Warspite and King George VI.

SSN-AUKUS
Prior to 2023, the plan for a Maritime Underwater Future Capability (MUFC), that is, a successor to the Astute-class SSN, was known the SSN (R) program. MUFC was also known as the 'Astute Replacement Nuclear Submarine (SSN (R))'. In September 2021, a £170 million contract was awarded to BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce for initial design work on the submarines.

In 2023, an agreement was reached by the American, British and Australian Governments to jointly develop a new attack submarine that is to be an evolution from SSN (R). The program will be a joint British-Australian-American project and will involve the construction of a new class of submarine for both the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. According to the Joint Leaders Statement, "Beginning in 2023, Australian military and civilian personnel will embed with the U.S. Navy, the Royal Navy, and in the United States and United Kingdom submarine industrial bases to accelerate the training of Australian personnel. The United States plans to increase SSN port visits to Australia beginning in 2023, with Australian sailors joining U.S. crews for training and development; the United Kingdom will increase visits to Australia beginning in 2026. ... In the late 2030s, the United Kingdom will deliver its first SSN-AUKUS to the Royal Navy. Australia will deliver the first SSN-AUKUS built in Australia to the Royal Australian Navy in the early 2040s". The program is to benefit from American technology transfers that will support the construction of the AUKUS submarines.

In November 2022, MSubs Ltd was awarded a £15.4m contract to build an XLUUV (Extra Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle) vessel which is to be delivered to the Royal Navy within two years. The 17-tonne vessel (known as Project CETUS) was described as being "the next step in developing autonomous underwater warfare capability" and is also to feed into the design of SSN(R)/SSN AUKUS.

Fixed-wing aircraft
The Invincible class, because of its small size, had only a limited capacity and was only capable of operating STOVL aircraft, firstly the Sea Harrier and subsequently the Harrier GR7/GR9. In 2006 the Sea Harrier was withdrawn from service. This saw the front line Sea Harrier squadron of the Fleet Air Arm converting to the Harrier GR9, as part of the evolution of the Joint Force Harrier concept. The Harrier's replacement in both the RAF and the FAA is the American-designed and built F-35 Lightning II Joint Combat Aircraft. The F-35 is a significant improvement over the Harrier, in terms of speed, range and weapon load.

The UK had plans to order 138 F-35Bs for the FAA and RAF. The financial crisis led to the decision taken in the 2010 SDSR to immediately withdraw the Harrier GR9 force in late 2010 along with HMS Ark Royal, to reduce the total number of F-35s planned for purchase by the UK, and to purchase the F-35C CATOBAR version rather than the STOVL F-35B. By May 2012, the government had decided to purchase the more expensive and less-capable short-take off version, the F-35B instead.

In July 2012, the Secretary of State for Defence stated that an initial 48 F-35Bs will be purchased to equip the carrier fleet. In September 2013, it was announced that the second JSF squadron would be the Fleet Air Arm's 809 NAS. Chancellor George Osborne announced on 22 November 2015 that the UK will have 24 F-35Bs on its two new carriers by 2023. While the 2015 SDSR declared that the United Kingdom would buy 138 F-35s over the life of the programme, the 2021 defence white paper sharply reduced that total to "beyond 48". Subsequently, the First Sea Lord indicated that the new envisaged number was to be 60 aircraft initially and "then maybe more", up to a maximum of around 80 to hopefully equip four "deployable squadrons".

On 20 May 2016, it had been reported that the UK would field four frontline squadrons as part of its Lightning Force; in addition to 809 NAS, plus another Fleet Air Arm squadron, four Royal Air Force units (617 Sqn plus another operational squadron, 207 Sqn as the OCU, and 17(R) Squadron as the Operational Evaluation Unit) were also formed. The UK is committed to improving its F-35Bs to Block 4 standard. In 2016 it had been planned that 809 NAS would stand up in April 2023. However, by 2021 it was no longer clear that this objective would be met and a specific date for 809 NAS to stand up had yet to be confirmed. In early 2022, one analysis suggested that 809 Squadron might not stand up before 2026 and that a third frontline F-35 squadron might not be active before 2030. In September 2022, it was reported that 809 Squadron would in fact formally stand up in 2023 but that it would not be considered "deployable" for a further two years thereafter. No. 809 Squadron formally stood-up in December 2023.

In 2022, U.K. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace reported that the RAF and Royal Navy faced a considerable challenge in providing even the existing modest F-35B fleet with qualified pilots. As of late 2022 there were only 30 qualified British pilots (plus three exchange pilots from the United States and Australia) for the F-35. The average wait time for RAF trainee Typhoon and F-35 pilots, after completing the Military Flying Training System, was approximately 11 and 12 months respectively. A further gap of 68 weeks existed between completing Basic Flying Training and beginning Advanced Fast Jet Training. The resulting pilot shortage was a factor in being able to stand up the first Fleet Air Arm Squadron (809 Squadron) on a timely basis. In February 2023, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, stated that the number of UK F-35 pilots had grown to 34, with a further 7 to complete training by August 2023.

In April 2022, the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Richard Knighton, told the House of Commons Defence Select Committee that the MoD was in discussions to purchase a second tranche of 26 F-35B fighters. Nevertheless, subsequent reports suggested that this second tranche order would only be completed in 2033. Plans for frontline F-35B squadrons had been modified and now envisaged a total of three squadrons (rather than four) each deploying 12-16 aircraft. In surge conditions 24 F-35s might be embarked on the carrier but a routine deployment would likely involve 12 aircraft.

Helicopters
The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review saw the Fleet Air Arm transition to operate two types of helicopter – the AW101 Merlin and the AW159 Wildcat. These replaced the aging fleet of Westland Sea Kings and Westland Lynxes. There are 30 Merlin HM.2 helicopters in service.

The future AEW capability of the FAA is the "Crowsnest" programme, is set to replace the Sea King ASaC.7 which retired in September 2018. The original six-year capability-gap between the retirement of the Sea King ASaC.7 fleet and the entry service of Crowsnest was the source of much criticism. All 30 of the Royal Navy's HM.2 Merlins will be equipped to carry the Crowsnest system, though a maximum of 10 could be fitted with it at any one time.

The Thales Crowsnest radar is a slightly upgraded version of the existing Searchwater 2000 radar. As part of the process of the system reaching initial operating capability, Crowsnest was deployed with the Royal Navy's carrier task group in 2021. However, the system experienced operating challenges. Initial operating capability of the system was achieved in July 2023 with full operating capability expected in 2024/25. Despite the original intent to have up to 10 Merlin helicopters deploy the Crowsnest system, it has been reported that initially only five Merlins will be equipped with Crowsnest, three of these being normally assigned to the "high readiness" aircraft carrier.

Problems with Merlin/Crowsnest have caused the Royal Navy to look for a replacement. the system, which is still to achieve full operating capability, has a planned retirement date of 2029. In 2021, the UK's Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) announced that options would be examined and might draw on the already existing Project Vixen (see below), researching the utility of a naval unmanned system that could encompass strike, airborne surveillance, air-to-air refueling and electronic warfare. If implemented, the replacement of Merlin/Crowsnest by another system would permit all Merlin helicopters to focus on ASW operations for the remainder of their service lives.

, the out of service date for the HM.2s was envisaged as 2029 while the HC.4s were scheduled to retire by 2030. The 2021 defence white paper did not reference a Merlin replacement. However, it was subsequently indicated that the out of service date for both the HM.2s and the HC.4s had been extended to 2040.

Remote Piloted Air Systems
Following trials with the rail-launched ScanEagle it started operational flights of leased ScanEagles in January 2014 watching for swarm attacks on HMS Somerset and RFA Cardigan Bay in the Persian Gulf. This was expanded in November 2014, when 700X NAS was formed to serve as both the parent unit for ship based ScanEagle flights, and as the evaluation unit for any future RPAS systems that the Royal Navy elects to try. ScanEagle was withdrawn in 2017 and replaced by the RQ-20A Puma shoulder-launched UAV on board. The optionally-manned PZL-Świdnik SW-4 Solo completed trials with the RN in 2015 as part of the UK's RWUAS (Rotary Wing Unmanned Air System) Capability Concept Demonstrator (CCD) programme. In early 2023, the Schiebel S-100 Camcopter was selected to operate in an intelligence-gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance role with the Royal Navy. To be named Peregrine in Royal Navy service, it is initially intended to begin operations in the Persian Gulf in mid-2024.

The Royal Navy has also utilised 3-D printed unmanned aircraft in its operations.

The Royal Navy has planned for two future UAS: The Flexible Deployable UAS (FDUAS) and Joint Mini UAS (JMUAS) programs. FDUAS is seen as a "Sea Eagle (Scan Eagle) Plus" while JMUAS is a UAS for the Royal Marines. In November 2019, 700 NAS tested two new UAS, namely, the AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma and the AeroVironment Wasp III.

In 2020 NavyX tested a heavy quadcopter from Malloy Aeronautics, with the head engineer of Malloy stating that the aspiration was to autonomously deploy 180 kg payloads from a Royal Navy vessel over ranges of 20 km with their T400 quadcopter. Payloads could include people, torpedoes and fixed-wing drones. In 2022, a £60 million four-year contract was awarded to Leonardo to design and develop an uncrewed helicopter. A three-tonne demonstrator was envisaged to carry out trials for a UAV with anti-submarine capabilities. As of 2023, it was reported that the technology demonstrator - named Proteus - would conduct an initial flight in 2025.

In March 2021, Project Vixen was revealed to the public as a programme to examine the use of fixed-wing UAVs from the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers in roles such as surveillance, strike, electronic warfare and air-to-air refueling. During the same month, it was also revealed that the MOD was seeking electromagnetic catapults and arrestor cables capable of launching large fixed-wing UAVs from the aircraft carriers within threefive years.

During the WESTLANT 23 deployment to the USA, HMS Prince of Wales is planned to trial the General Atomics Mojave, a short take-off and landing (STOL) medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone to examine the feasibility of operating large fixed-wing drones for armed surveillance and other roles from carriers. Before leaving European waters, Prince of Wales conducted STOL trials with a WAS HCMC twin-engine heavy-lift RPAS to embark a dummy payload of naval memorabilia before returning to the UK with a fuel sample for laboratory testing, demonstrating the first steps in obtaining fixed-wing cargo capability for the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers.

Royal Marines
The Royal Marines are being further downsized and restructured for the future, with 200 driver and administrative staff posts set to be reallocated to Royal Navy personnel. 42 Commando was transformed into a specialised "Maritime Operations unit" so that roles from that unit such as heavy weapons specialists, can be reallocated across the Royal Navy as of May 2018 The Royal Marines stood up an office programme titled, Future Commando Force, aiming to give staff and intellectual horsepower to change the Royal Marines to meet the threats of the future. There will be only two Littoral Response Groups: One based East of Suez, one based in the High North. The Royal Marines Band Service will remain at full strength. On 27 June 2020, the Royal Marines announced the adopting of a new uniform with the MultiCam camouflage.

Weapons

 * Sea Ceptor (formerly CAMM(M) or FLAADS) is a short-range air-defence missile to replace Sea Wolf on Type 23 frigates from 2016 and to be incrementally added to the armament of the Type 45 destroyers from 2026.
 * Sea Viper, used by the Type 45 destroyers, has undergone trials using its SAMPSON radar to track ballistic missiles, and work is ongoing to develop its Aster missiles to counter ballistic missiles. The UK is also considering upgrading its Type 45 Destroyers with the Aster 30 Block 1NT missile.
 * Martlet (formerly FASGW (Light) and the Lightweight Multirole Missile) is a short range, supersonic anti-ship missile for use against small surface warships, patrol vessels and craft. Martlet entered initial service in 2021 on the Fleet Air Arm's Wildcat maritime helicopters. Full operating capability is expected in 2025.
 * Sea Venom (formerly FASGW (Heavy)), a bigger anti-shipping missile launched from helicopters, replacing former Sea Skua missile which was withdrawn from service in 2017. Initially reported deployed with helicopters of the Royal Navy's carrier strike group in 2021. However, operating challenges were reported in 2023 as "ongoing" and full operating capability for Sea Venom was delayed until 2026.
 * The SPEAR 3 missile is a multi-role networked anti-ship and land-attack missile based on the Brimstone anti-tank missile with the JSOW-ER turbojet to extend the range to over 120 km. Four Spear 3 can fit in two internal weapons bay of an F-35B, MBDA are also looking at ship launch for members of the Brimstone family, including a quick-firing, anti-swarm 'Sea Spear'. In November 2021, Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin suggested that full operating capability for SPEAR-3 on F-35 might occur in around 2028.
 * The FC/ASW (Future Cruise/Anti Ship Weapon) is a future anti-ship cruise missile planned for the Royal Navy and the French Navy. MBDA has presented Perseus, a supersonic multi-role cruise missile concept study which was unveiled at the Paris 2011 Air Show. In the 2016 UK-France Security Summit, the two parties pledged to work on a "joint concept phase for the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme to identify solutions for replacement of the Scalp/Storm Shadow missiles, for both countries, Harpoon for the UK and Exocet for France." In 2021, Jeremy Quin indicated that the plan was to equip the Type 26-class frigates with the missile from 2028. In October 2021 it was reported that the project had been put "on hold", at least temporarily, by France in response to the UK role in Australia's decision to cancel the acquisition of French-designed conventional submarines. Then in November the First Sea Lord, Admiral Tony Radakin, told the House of Commons Select Defence Committee that options for FC/ASW were still "being looked at" including potential hypersonic weapons. This might in fact delay the introduction of these weapons until the 2030s.
 * A prior information notice (PIN) for contracts was announced on 5 March 2019 for a Next Generation Interim Surface Ship Guided Weapon (I-SSGW), that is, an anti-ship missile to replace the Royal Navy's Harpoon Block 1C missiles on five of the Type-23-class frigates. The possible candidates for the requirement were the Harpoon Block II+, LRASM, Naval Strike Missile, RBS15 Mk4, Exocet Block 3C, Gabriel V missile, C-star, Type 90 Ship-to-Ship Missile or Hsiung Feng III. A contract notice was issued on 22 August 2019 for an "Interim Surface to Surface Guided Weapon System (I-SSGW)", requesting for an over-the-horizon anti ship capability and a terrain-following precision land attack capability. The land attack requirement had been likely to disqualify the Harpoon, Exocet and C-Star from the competition.  However, in November 2021 the First Sea Lord, Admiral Tony Radakin, told the House of Commons Select Defence Committee that the program "had been paused" and seemed likely to be cancelled. The project was confirmed to have been cancelled in February 2022. Even so, in July 2022 Defence Secretary Ben Wallace indicated that the project might be resurrected yet again. In November 2022, the Naval Strike Missile was purchased to be fitted to 11 Type 45 destroyers and Type 23 frigates. Initial delivery of the first systems was anticipated by the end of 2023. In December 2023, HMS Somerset became the first Royal Navy warship to be equipped with the missile.
 * The British Government announced on 5 January 2017 that it had awarded a £30 million contract to UK consortium 'Dragonfire' to develop a directed energy weapon technology demonstrator. Their intention is to have a working prototype ready by the end of the decade and potentially have vessels equipped with directed energy weapons by the mid-2020s. In July 2022, the system began a series of trials to prove the accuracy and power of the weapon. In April 2024, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps stated that the U.K. aimed to deploy Dragonfire on Royal Navy warships by 2027 - five years earlier than previously planned.
 * In July 2019, the UK issued a Prior Information Notice for Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) demonstrators. This differs from the above Dragonfire as it combines multiple laser beams to produce a weapon more powerful than its predecessors and resistant to the most challenging environmental conditions.

Navigation and communication

 * In January 2016, it was announced that a £44m Navigation Radar Programme would see "more than 60 Royal Navy ships, submarines and shore facilities" fitted with state-of-the-art navigation radars, with contracts awarded to Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems UK and Kelvin Hughes.
 * The MoD is reportedly investing heavily in development of quantum compasses which could potentially transcend the need for GPS as a means of navigation, providing a self-contained and interference-proof alternative. Deployment of this technology is often discussed with regard to the Royal Navy's submarine fleet, allowing vessels to navigate without outside assistance and therefore remain submerged for extended lengths of time.
 * In December 2018, it was announced that a £23m agreement to provide Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships with new radios had been signed. The radios will be installed on 39 ships in total, including 13 Type 23 Frigates, 4 survey and ice patrol vessels, 13 minehunters and 9 RFA supply ships and will be used to communicate with other ships, ports and aircraft during operations. They will replace numerous older radios and as more modern pieces of equipment, they are easier to use/maintain, can be updated via software and operated remotely. Under the contract, Thales will develop, fit and support a V/UHF radio solution which includes the acquisition of around 300 Rohde & Schwarz radios. The first radio will enter service on a Type 23 Frigate in 2020, with all radios due to be delivered and installed by the end of 2023.

title: Future of the Royal Navy


text:
Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Norman Walsh

This page is an archive of the discussion surrounding the proposed deletion of the page entitled Norman Walsh.

This page is kept as an historic record.

The result of the debate was to delete the article.

Vanity page. Kingturtle 23:02, 16 May 2004 (UTC)

 * Delete. Useless, vanity, not even funny. --Netlad 23:05, 16 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Vanity. Delete.Beelzebubs 03:12, 17 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete as vanity. How about speedy delete as lacking content? - Lucky 6.9 16:38, 17 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete it NOW. JFW | T@lk  23:37, 18 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Keep, once its been de-stubbed. It isn't vanity, I created it, its just that I didn't know much about Docbook other than it he created stylesheets for it. Maybe someone who knows more about Norman Walsh and Docbook should fill it in. Krik 13:07, 21 May 2004 (UTC)

This page is now preserved as an archive of the debate and is no longer 'live'. Subsequent comments on the issue or the deletion should be placed on other relevant 'live' pages. Please do not edit this page.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


text:
Henry Condell (mayor)

Henry Condell (1797–1871) was the first Mayor of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He served from 1842 to 1844, and was succeeded by Henry Moor.

Condell was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council as the first member for Town of Melbourne on 1 June 1843. He held this seat until 1 February 1844 when replaced by Joseph Robinson.

Biography
Henry Condell was born on 9 September 1797 in Funchal, Madeira, the sixth of eight children. His father, Joseph Alexander Condell (born Musselburgh, Scotland, 1749), was a brewer in Leith and his mother was Martha (née French). Condell's parents married in a Roman Catholic ceremony in Lincoln's Inn, London in 1783 before traveling to Madeira (Martha's birthplace), where they operated a wine and spirits business.

Condell was sent to Scotland to be educated at the Musselburgh Grammar School. At the age of sixteen he left school to work for John Small & Company in Calcutta but the climate did not agree with him, and he fell ill. After leaving Calcutta, Henry moved to New Brunswick, Canada but he was unsuccessful in his application to buy land. He left New Brunswick in 1821, planning to travel to New South Wales to settle, but first he returned to Edinburgh where he married Marion Vallange on 28 May 1822.

He left Scotland for Van Diemen's Land on 24 June 1822 on board the "Skelton" and arrived in Hobart on 24 December 1822. Marion and their first child Jane did not accompany him remaining in Edinburgh. Marion traveled to Hobart three years later, leaving their daughter Jane behind to be looked after by grandparents in Edinburgh. A son, William Vallange, was born in Hobart in 1827.

With money inherited following his mother's death Condell established a brewery in Hobart in 1830. In 1839 he moved to Port Phillip and set up a brewery in Little Collins Street and he also acquired several properties in Melbourne.

On 9 December 1842 at the Royal Hotel, Collins Street Condell was elected as Melbourne's first Mayor, as well as the Gipps Ward Alderman. In addition, Condell was as a member of the New South Wales Upper House from 1843–1856.

In 1853 he left Australia on the "Bombay" for England, but the ship nearly sank with its passengers and their gold. His wife Marion died in Maida Vale, Kensington in 1866 and Condell died at the age of eighty, when a visitor to Oak House, South Mimms, on 26 September 1871 and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.

There is a 'Condell Room' named after him in the Melbourne Town Hall and his portrait hangs in one of its rooms. The present Melbourne Town Hall clock was presented to the town by his son, William Vallange, after his father's death.

title: Henry Condell (mayor)


text:
Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/ECritters/old

This page is an archive of the discussion surrounding the proposed deletion of the page entitled ECritters.

This page is kept as an historic record.

The result of the debate was to delete the article.

A website which no longer exists. I'm wondering if the person listing it isn't the one who cracked it and is bragging about the fact. RickK 22:34, 16 May 2004 (UTC)
 * I created the page, and I am definatly not the cracker. I was a moderator on the website. And it may come back, depending on if the owner pays for it to be recovered or not.--24.52.49.203
 * Smells like a cracker brag. Whatever the site was, it's dead now. Article isn't much of a stub. Delete. -- Cyrius|&#9998 02:27, May 17, 2004 (UTC)
 * Oh yes. I'm definatly bragging that I brought the site down. Sarcasm ends. And the site is back up. Article should stay.--24.52.49.203
 * Oh no. I'm "definatly" saying that the article is vanity and non-encyclopedic.  Sarcasm is alive and well.  Article should go. - Lucky 6.9 20:43, 18 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Neopets has its own article. Why shouldn't any other pet site?--24.52.49.203
 * For one thing, Neopets actually exists. RickK 22:55, 18 May 2004 (UTC)
 * For another thing, so does eCritters. The URL is http://www.ecritters.biz ; you can check for yourselves.--24.52.49.203
 * Delete: not notable. Wile E. Heresiarch 00:09, 20 May 2004 (UTC)
 * delete, non notable. --Jiang 01:40, 21 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Delete: not notable. (Neopets has >30 million users) General Wesc 22:35, 2004 May 21 (UTC)
 * Delete, this is my site but it isn't notable. It is back up now though. Eurleif 00:45, May 22, 2004 (UTC)

This page is now preserved as an archive of the debate and is no longer 'live'. Subsequent comments on the issue or the deletion should be placed on other relevant 'live' pages. Please do not edit this page.


text:
Same-sex marriage in Germany

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Germany since 1 October 2017. A bill for the legalisation of same-sex marriage passed the Bundestag on 30 June 2017 and the Bundesrat on 7 July. It was signed into law on 20 July by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and published in the Federal Law Gazette on 28 July 2017. Previously, the governing CDU/CSU had refused to legislate on the issue of same-sex marriage. In June 2017, Chancellor Angela Merkel unexpectedly said she hoped the matter would be put to a conscience vote. Consequently, other party leaders organised for a vote to be held in the last week of June during the final legislative session before summer recess. The Bundestag passed the legislation on 30 June by 393 votes to 226, and it went into force on 1 October. Germany was the first country in Central Europe, the fourteenth in Europe, and the 22nd in the world to allow same-sex couples to marry nationwide.

From 2001 until 2017, Germany recognized registered life partnerships for same-sex couples. The benefits granted by these partnerships were gradually extended by the Federal Constitutional Court throughout several rulings until they provided for most, but not all, of the rights of marriage.

First and second Schröder governments
The Act on Registered Life Partnerships (Gesetz über die Eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft) was a compromise between proponents of same-sex marriage and conservatives from the two major conservative parties, whose MPs' interpretation of marriage excluded gay people. The act established registered life partnerships (eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft, ) granting same-sex couples a number of rights enjoyed by married opposite-sex couples. It was drafted by Volker Beck of the Greens and was approved under the First Schröder Cabinet, a coalition government constiting of the Greens and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). The Bundestag approved it in November 2000 with the government parties voting in favour and the opposition CDU/CSU and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) voting against. President Johannes Rau signed the law on 16 February 2001 and it entered into force on 1 August 2001.

On 17 July 2002, the Federal Constitutional Court upheld the act as constitutional. The court found, unanimously, that the process leading to the law's enactment was constitutional. The 8-member court further ruled, with three dissenting votes, that the substance of the law conforms to the Basic Law (Grundgesetz, the German Constitution), and ruled that these partnerships could be granted equal rights to those given to married couples. The initial law had deliberately withheld certain privileges, such as joint adoption and pension rights for widows and widowers, in an effort to observe the "special protection" which the Constitution provides for marriage and the family. The court determined that the "specialness" of the protection was not in the quantity of protection, but in the obligatory nature of this protection, whereas the protection of registered partnerships was at the Bundestag's discretion.

On 12 October 2004, the Registered Life Partnership Law (Revision) Act (Gesetz zur Überarbeitung des Lebenspartnerschaftsrechts) was passed by the Bundestag, increasing the rights of registered life partners to include, among others, the possibility of stepchild adoption and simpler alimony and divorce rules, but excluding the same tax benefits as in a marriage. The law took effect on 1 January 2005.

First Merkel Government
In July 2008, the Federal Constitutional Court ruled that a transgender person who transitioned to female, after having been married to a woman for more than 50 years, could remain married to her wife and change her legal gender to female. It gave the Bundestag one year to effect the necessary change in the relevant law.

On 22 October 2009, the Constitutional Court ruled that a man whose employer had given him and his registered partner inferior pension benefits on account of him not being married was entitled to the same benefits he would receive were he and his partner married and of opposite sexes. The court's decision mandated equal rights for same-sex registered couples not just in regard to pension benefits, but in regard to all rights and responsibilities applying to married couples.

Second Merkel Government
On 25 October 2009, the new CDU/CSU-FDP coalition released its government programme. It stipulated that the tax inequality between same-sex life partners and opposite-sex married couples would be repealed and the Constitutional Court's ruling of 22 October would be codified into law. However, the government programme did not mention adoption rights.

On 17 August 2010, the Federal Constitutional Court ruled that surviving registered partners are entitled to the same inheritance tax rules as surviving spouses. Previously, surviving marital partners paid 7–30% inheritance tax while surviving registered partners paid 17–50%.

On 18 February 2013, the Constitutional Court broadened adoption rights for registered partners. The court ruled that a partner must be allowed to adopt the other partner's adopted child, a so-called "successive adoption", and not only a partner's biological child. However, the government did not bring up a vote in Parliament to change the adoption laws before it adjourned in June 2013. The court gave the Bundestag until 30 June 2014 to change the laws. On 6 June 2013, the Constitutional Court ruled that registered partners should have joint tax filing benefits equal to those of married opposite-sex couples. The Bundestag had to change the law retroactively.

Third Merkel Government
While the new CDU/CSU-SPD government had to allow successive adoption by June 2014 as required by the 2013 Constitutional Court ruling, the court was expected to rule in 2014 whether registered partners should be allowed to jointly adopt children as well, but dismissed the case in February 2014 on procedural grounds. In March 2014, the coalition government approved a bill to allow successive adoption, with discussion on whether or not to implement full adoption equality. The Bundesrat recommended full adoption equality, and a Bundestag committee held a hearing on the topic. On 22 May, the Bundestag passed the law while rejecting proposals by the Greens for full adoption equality. Another law to grant same-sex couples full tax equality passed unanimously in the Bundestag, finishing the required legal changes following the June 2013 court ruling.

In October 2015, the Bundestag approved a government bill modifying a series of laws concerning registered partnerships. It gave registered partners the same rights as married couples in several legal areas; there were, however, no noteworthy changes. The bill passed the Bundesrat in November 2015.

The ability to enter into a registered life partnership was closed off on 1 October 2017. No further partnerships are granted in Germany, and couples may retain their status as registered partners or convert their union into a recognized marriage.

Partnership statistics
The registered partnership law went into effect on 1 August 2001. By October 2004, 5,000 same-sex couples had registered.

In 2007, there were 15,000 registered couples, two-thirds being male, and in 2010 there were 23,000 couples. In May 2011, 68,268 people reported being in a registered life partnership. As of the end of 2016, 44,000 registered partnerships had been conducted in Germany; approximately 25,000 (56.8%) were between men, while 19,000 were between women (43.2%).

Same-sex marriage
CDU/CSU, the senior member parties of Germany's coalition governments between 2005 and 2021, were historically opposed to the legalisation of same-sex marriage. The Greens, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Left Party support same-sex marriage and voted in June 2012 for a defeated bill to legalise it. The Free Democratic Party (FDP) supports same-sex marriage, though it rejected legislation when they were part of a coalition government with the CDU/CSU between 2009 and 2013. The SPD agreed to oppose same-sex marriage when in government with the CDU/CSU between 2013 and 2017. Most parties made agreement on same-sex marriage a condition for joining a coalition government with the CDU/CSU after the 2017 federal election. Since legalization in October 2017, the CDU/CSU has opposed motions to repeal the same-sex marriage law, and mostly considers the matter "settled". In 2020, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) published a political video supporting same-sex marriage and families, and in 2023 the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) adopted a party platform supporting same-sex marriage. As of 2023, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) remains the largest party opposed to same-sex marriage.

In German, same-sex marriage is known as gleichgeschlechtliche Ehe or more commonly in public discourse as Ehe für alle, meaning "marriage for all".

Second Merkel Government
The opposition Greens released a draft same-sex marriage law in June 2009. In March 2010, the Senate of Berlin announced its intention to introduce a same-sex marriage bill in the Bundesrat, the federal representation of the German states. According to the Senate, this law would best fit the Constitutional Court's ruling that same-sex couples must be treated equally to heterosexual couples. The Bundesrat rejected the law in September 2010. Only Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen and North Rhine-Westphalia voted in favour of the same-sex marriage bill; the other 12 states did not. In June 2011, the Senate of Hamburg, following CDU losses in state elections around the country, also announced its intention to introduce a same-sex marriage bill in the Bundesrat.

On 28 June 2012, a Greens motion to legalise same-sex marriage was defeated in the Bundestag by a vote of 309 to 260 with 12 abstentions. The motion was meant to give parity to same-sex couples in adoption and tax purposes. CDU/CSU and FDP members voted against the proposal, while the opposition parties (Social Democratic Party, Greens, and The Left) supported it.

On 22 March 2013, the Bundesrat passed a bill proposed by 5 states (Hamburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Schleswig-Holstein) to open marriage to same-sex couples. The bill was sent to the Bundestag for a vote; however, the ruling coalition was still the same as in 2012 when the previous proposal was defeated.

Third Merkel Government
Federal elections were held on 22 September 2013, after which a new government coalition was formed. The new Bundestag, inaugurated on 22 October, again consisted of a theoretical majority of parties in favour of same-sex marriage (SPD, The Left and the Greens). The Left immediately introduced a bill to legalise same-sex marriage, but the SPD did not support it in order to not jeopardise negotiations on government formation. Even though the SPD had campaigned on "100% equality" for LGBT people, the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and the SPD did not contain any significant change regarding LGBT rights. The Left's bill had its first reading on 19 December 2013 and was subsequently sent to the Legal Affairs Committee for consideration.

On 5 June 2015, nine states (Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia) submitted a same-sex marriage bill to the Bundesrat. The legislation had its first reading on 12 June 2015. In the Bundestag, the Greens submitted another bill on 10 June 2015. It had its first reading on 18 June. On 25 September 2015, the Bundesrat voted to approve the bill proposed by the nine states. The bill moved to the Bundestag where the governing parties (CDU/CSU and SPD) blocked the consideration of all three pending same-sex marriage bills.

In March 2017, the SPD, the junior partner in the coalition government, announced they would press the CDU to legalise same-sex marriage in the face of overwhelming public support. The leader of the SPD in the Bundestag, Thomas Oppermann, said his party would introduce a bill, in addition to the long-pending bills of the Greens, The Left and the one referred from the Bundesrat, but eventually did not do so. On 20 June 2017, the Federal Constitutional Court rejected an application by the Greens for an injunction ordering the Legal Affairs Committee to send bills legalising same-sex marriage to lawmakers for a vote in Parliament's last pre-election session. On 17 June 2017, the Greens pledged not to participate in any governing coalition after the 2017 elections unless the legalisation of same-sex marriage was part of the agreement. On 24 June, FDP Leader Christian Lindner said that he would recommend that his party makes a similar commitment, and the following day the SPD made a similar pledge.

Bundestag vote and Bundesrat approval
In late June 2017, whilst answering audience questions at a public forum in Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel unexpectedly stated that she hoped the question of same-sex marriage would be put to a conscience vote. This was widely interpreted to mean that she would allow a vote in the Bundestag on the matter without party whip control by the Union parties. Shortly after her statement, several politicians, including SPD Leader Martin Schulz, pressured for a vote to be held in the last week of June during the final legislative session before summer recess. On 27 June, both Union parties (CDU and CSU) announced that they would allow their lawmakers a conscience vote, although they opposed a vote being held before the federal election. The SPD de facto breached the coalition agreement and planned on voting with the opposition parties to legalise same-sex marriage. On 28 June, SPD, Green, and Left members of the Legal Affairs Committee voted to schedule a plenary vote on the bill proposed by the Bundesrat in 2015, outvoting CDU/CSU members. The Greens and The Left withdrew their own respective bills.

On 30 June, the Bundestag debated and passed the bill by 393–226 with 4 abstentions and 7 absentees. Merkel herself, whose change of position had led to the vote being held, voted against the legislation, but said she hoped the result "not only promotes respect between the different opinions but also brings more social cohesion and peace". On 7 July, the Bundesrat approved the bill without a vote because there were no requests for changes. The bill was signed into law on 20 July 2017 by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. It was published on 28 July in the Bundesgesetzblatt and came into force the first day of the third month after publication (i.e. 1 October 2017). Hundreds of same-sex couples were married all over Germany that day, with the first same-sex wedding taking place in Schöneberg, Berlin between Karl Kreile and Bodo Mende.

The same-sex marriage law was short; it added the following sentence to Article 1353 of the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch: Marriage may be entered into for life by two persons of different sex or of the same sex.

Reaction and aftermath
Several legal experts, including MPs and party leaders, raised doubts about the legality of the law, with former President of the Federal Constitutional Court Hans-Jürgen Papier arguing that same-sex marriage is inconsistent with previous definitions of marriage espoused by the court. Article 6(1) of the Constitution places "marriage and family" under the "special protection of the state order". An amendment to the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Parliament. These concerns were dismissed by Federal Justice Minister Heiko Maas, who argued that Article 6(1) neither defines the term "marriage" nor rules out a wider definition.

Following the passage of the law, the Bavarian Government and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party both said they would consider petitioning the court for a judicial review (abstrakte Normenkontrolle). However, the AfD lacked legal standing to bring a challenge, as it was not part of the federal government or any state government. It also did not have any representation in the Bundestag at the time, and did not reach the necessary quarter of Bundestag members in the 2017 election. On 6 March 2018, the Bavarian Government announced it would not challenge the law, after commissioned assessments found its chances to be successful as low.

In September 2018, nearly a year after legalization, the AfD introduced a motion to the Bundestag to abolish same-sex marriage. The measure was rejected on 11 October, with every other political party opposing the motion. Several Green and CDU/CSU lawmakers instead congratulated the thousands of same-sex couples who had married in Germany in the past year, while other MPs criticised the AfD for their proposal, calling it "undemocratic", "wrong", "a cheap political trick at the expense of free society" or even "lazy as hell". In June 2019, the AfD re-introduced a motion to repeal the same-sex marriage law in both the Legal Affairs Committee and the Family Committee. The proposal was rejected by every other political party. The CDU/CSU stated that "the constitutional concept of marriage is open to same-sex couples". The Social Democrats criticized the AfD for trying to "reopen a completed constitutional debate", while the FDP criticized that a renewed marriage ban for same-sex couples would "reduce their freedom". The Left considered the AfD draft to be a "deliberate provocation aimed at denying equal rights to sexual minorities", and the Greens pointed out that there is "broad political and social majority" support for same-sex marriage. That same month, the AfD presented a motion to the Landtag of Schleswig-Holstein to force the state government to challenge the same-sex marriage law at the Federal Constitutional Court. The motion was unsuccessful and opposed by every other political party in the Landtag.

In December 2018, the German Parliament passed legislation amending several laws to reflect the legalisation of same-sex marriage, including with regard to the recognition of foreign same-sex marriages and the conversions of registered life partnerships to marriages.

Marriage statistics
According to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, up to 75,000 same-sex marriages had taken place in Germany by the end of 2022; about 30,000 of these were conversions from registered partnerships.

680 same-sex couples married in Berlin from October to the end of December 2017; 181 in Tempelhof-Schöneberg, 100 in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf and 97 in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, while the remaining couples married in the 9 other boroughs. During these three months, same-sex marriages accounted for 18.4% of all marriages performed in Berlin. 168 same-sex marriages were performed in Stuttgart from October to December 2017, with most being conversions from registered partnerships. In Mannheim, 135 same-sex couples were married between October 2017 and February 2018, with all but 16 of these marriages being conversions from registered partnerships. In Freiburg im Breisgau, 46 same-sex couples had married by February 2018.

By the end of March 2018, more than 1,000 same-sex marriages had taken place in Berlin (four boroughs did not publish their marriage statistics, leaving incomplete data), 900 in Hamburg, 644 in Cologne, 477 in Munich, 216 in Frankfurt, 192 in Düsseldorf, 180 in Dortmund and 158 in Hannover. Most were conversions from partnerships.

In the state of Berlin, 2,540 same-sex marriages were performed between 1 October 2017 and 31 December 2018, constituting 16.2% of the total 15,660 marriages. Of these, 1,551 (61%) were converted registered life partnerships; 1,637 (64%) were between two men, while the remaining 903 (36%) were between two women. In the state of Brandenburg, 903 same-sex marriages were performed in the same time period, constituting 5.9% of the total 15,440 marriages. 550 (61%) were converted registered life partnerships; 481 (53%) were between two women and 422 (47%) were between two men.

Religious performance
The largest religious organisations in Germany are the Protestant Church in Germany and the Roman Catholic Church. A 2016 survey from the German General Social Survey showed that 30.5% of German citizens were Catholic, 29.6% were members of the Protestant Church and 32.4% had no religious affiliation.

Protestant Church in Germany
The Protestant Church consists of twenty Lutheran, Reformed and United Protestant regional churches, encompassing the vast majority of Germany's Protestants. All twenty churches allow their clergy to bless same-sex relationships. Several also perform same-sex marriages in their places of worship: the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland (2016), the Protestant Church in Baden (2016), the Evangelical Church in Berlin, Brandenburg and Silesian Upper Lusatia (2016), the Evangelical Reformed Church in Germany (2017), the Evangelical Church of Bremen (2018), the Evangelical Church of Hesse Electorate-Waldeck (2018), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldenburg (2018), the Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau (2019), the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover (2019), the Evangelical Church of the Palatinate (2019), the Church of Lippe (2019), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany (2019), the Evangelical Church of Westphalia (2020) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brunswick (2022). The Evangelical Church in Central Germany allows same-sex marriages to be performed in its churches but only if the local municipality agrees.

On 14 August 2016, despite the lack of legal recognition for same-sex marriages, two men were married at St. Mary's Church in Berlin by two Protestant pastors, the first same-sex marriage performed in a German church. Marriages of same-sex couples are entered into the official church register. Pastors are under no obligation to perform same-sex marriages if this would violate their personal beliefs.

Catholic Church in Germany
Although the Catholic Church officially opposes same-sex marriages, several Catholic priests have been secretly blessing same-sex relationships for years, notably in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aachen. Several bishops have expressed their support for the blessings of same-sex relationships, including bishops Helmut Dieser, Franz-Josef Hermann Bode, Peter Kohlgraf, Georg Bätzing and Heinrich Timmerevers. In May 2021, in response to the Holy See reiterating a ban on blessing same-sex unions, some 120 priests decided to publicly defy the ban and bless several couples. Among them, Father Jan Korditschke decided to bless a member in his congregation whose partner had recently passed away, stating "How can you not bless - sorry, I'm getting emotional - a person in mourning after a long-term relationship? Should I say you should be grateful you got rid of this sinful love?". A 2015 survey conducted by the Free University of Berlin and the University of Münster showed that 70% of German Catholics supported church blessings for same-sex relationships.

In March 2023, the Synodal Path of the German Catholic Church voted in support of blessing same-sex relationships. "Often same-sex couples and remarried divorcees have experienced exclusion and depreciation in our Church. The possibility of publicly placing their partnership under God's blessing does not make up for these experiences. However, it offers the Church the opportunity to show appreciation for the love and values that exist in these relationships and thus ask for forgiveness and make reconciliation possible." The move, which was approved by a vote of 176–14 with 12 abstentions by the Synodal Path, will take effect in 2026. Shortly following the vote, the dioceses of Osnabrück, and Essen announced that their clergy could bless same-sex relationships.

In December 2023, the Holy See published Fiducia supplicans, a declaration allowing Catholic priests to bless couples who are not considered to be married according to church teaching, including the blessing of same-sex couples. The declaration was welcomed by several bishops. Bätzing said he was "grateful", "The declaration Fiducia supplicans addresses the issues that have become apparent in the recent past around the topics of requests for blessing and blessings from a pastoral perspective and in a theologically moderate and calm language. The declaration applies theological categories and terms in a responsible manner. It draws a clear line between unwavering fidelity to the teachings of the Church and the pastoral requirements of an ecclesial practice that wants to be close to people. A pastoral scope for action is described here, which illustrates responsible Church practice." Bishop of Passau Stefan Oster said the declaration could "help us in the polarized debates on this issue", "As a Catholic Church, in the pastoral walk with these people we usually have a great deficit of understanding, and all too often almost no ability to communicate in the care of souls. Now the scope for a shared pastoral path is widening."

Old Catholic Church in Germany
The synod of the Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany voted in November 2021 to bless and perform same-sex marriages in its churches, removing all distinctions between same-sex and opposite-sex partners in canon law and liturgical matters. The church had already allowed for the blessing of same-sex registered partnerships since 2003.

Public opinion

In December 2006, a poll conducted by Angus-Reid Global Monitor, seeking public attitudes on economic, political, and social issues for member states of the European Union, found that Germany ranked seventh supporting same-sex marriage with 52% popular support. German support for same-sex marriage was above the European Union average of 44%.

In January 2013, a poll conducted by YouGov found that German support for same-sex marriage was 66%, with 24% opposed and 10% undecided. Support for adoption by same-sex couples was 59%, with 31% opposed and 11% undecided. A survey conducted the following month by RTL Television and Stern magazine found that 74% of Germans were supportive of same-sex marriage, with 23% against. Support was recorded to be strongest among Green and Social Democratic (SPD) voters, but even among voters of Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing Christian Democrats (CDU) almost two-thirds were in favour. A May 2013 Ipsos poll found that 67% of respondents were in favour of same-sex marriage and another 12% supported other forms of recognition for same-sex couples. A poll conducted that same month by Ifop showed that 74% of Germans supported allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt children.

According to an October 2013 poll by TNS Emnid, 70% supported full legal equality of registered partnerships and marriage.

According to a May 2015 poll by YouGov, 65% of Germans supported same-sex marriage (by party: 57% of CDU/CSU voters, 79% of SPD voters, 68% of The Left voters and 94% of Green voters), while 28% opposed allowing same-sex couples to marry and 7% were undecided. Support rose to 75% among 18–24-year-olds, but fell to 60% among those aged 55 and over. By religion, support was 64% among Catholics and 63% among Protestants. Support for adoption by same-sex couples was 57%, with 35% opposed and 8% undecided. The 2015 Eurobarometer found that 66% of Germans thought same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe, while 29% were opposed.

A May 2015 poll by TNS Emnid found that 64% of Germans supported same-sex marriage (by party: 63% of CDU/CSU voters, 77% of SPD voters, 63% of FDP voters, 62% of The Left voters, 89% of Green voters and 14% of AfD voters), while 31% were opposed and 5% were undecided. A poll conducted the following month by INSA showed that 65% of Germans supported same-sex marriage (by party: 58% of CDU/CSU voters, 75% of SPD voters, 72% of The Left voters, 79% of Green voters, 65% of FDP voters, and 42% of AfD voters). A September–October 2016 survey by the Varkey Foundation found that 82% of 18–21-year-olds supported same-sex marriage in Germany.

In January 2017, a study by Germany's Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency indicated that 83% of Germans were in favour of same-sex marriage. A June 2017 ZDF poll found that 73% of Germans supported same-sex marriage, including 95% of Green voters, 82% of SPD voters, 81% of The Left voters, 64% of CDU/CSU voters, 63% of FDP voters, and 55% of AfD voters. A Pew Research Center poll, conducted between April and August 2017 and published in May 2018, showed that 75% of Germans supported same-sex marriage, 23% were opposed and 2% did not know or had refused to answer. When divided by religion, 86% of religiously unaffiliated people, 82% of non-practicing Christians and 53% of church-attending Christians supported same-sex marriage. Opposition was 15% among 18–34-year-olds.

The 2019 Eurobarometer found that 84% of Germans thought same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe, while 12% were opposed. A Pew Research Center poll conducted between February and May 2023 showed that 80% of Germans supported same-sex marriage, 18% were opposed and 2% did not know or had refused to answer. When divided by political affiliation, support was highest among those on the left of the political spectrum at 86%, followed by those at the center at 80% and those on the right at 74%. Women (85%) were also more likely to support same-sex marriage than men (74%). The 2023 Eurobarometer showed that support was similar, at 84%, while 13% were opposed. The survey also found that 84% of Germans thought that "there is nothing wrong in a sexual relationship between two persons of the same sex", while 13% disagreed.

title: Same-sex marriage in Germany


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Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Nadgers

Slang dicdef. RickK 22:31, 16 May 2004 (UTC)

title: Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Nadgers


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South East European University

South East European University (SEEU), informally also known as the Max van der Stoel University, is an internationally recognized private-public nonprofit higher education institution established in 2001 upon initiative of former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities HE Max van der Stoel and is located in Tetovo, North Macedonia, with a branch campus in Skopje.

Since its establishment the university has succeeded in combining the best of European and U.S. experience and has continued to benefit from countless academic collaborations sponsored by the European Commission and USAID, among other donors.

During the opening ceremony former Swedish diplomat HE Rolf Ekéus stated: "Today is a good day for Europe. At a time when good news is in short supply, it is heartening to see that progress can be made towards building peace among people. […] In the future, people will think of Tetovo as the site of a [renowned] multi-lingual university".

The university is an associate member of the European University Association and the Balkan Universities Network.

Project initiation, funding and supervision
The praise for the establishment of the South East European University (SEEU) has been given to former Dutch diplomat HE Max van der Stoel who initiated the venture of launching a globally recognized university and higher education excellence center with a European orientation in the region since the late 1990s.

Max van der Stoel, who has also been the first Chairman of the University's International Advisory Board, stressed the European orientation of the University by saying: "We know the wish of the population of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to have increasingly close relations with countries of the European Union and to have education at a standard recognized by European academic institutions".

Funds for the project were sought from the international community, while the local government provided the land where the university is situated.

The running of the project has been overseen since its beginning by both an international and a national advisory board.

Faculties and study programmes
South East European University (SEEU) offers courses and programmes leading to internationally recognized higher education degrees at bachelor, master and doctorate levels in several areas of study.

Study programmes are offered in three languages: English, Albanian and Macedonian.

The university is constituted of six faculties:

 * Law
 * Contemporary Social Sciences
 * Business and Economics
 * Languages, Cultures and Communications
 * Contemporary Sciences and Technologies
 * Health Sciences

Professors, lecturers and fellows
Since its founding the university has had among its ranks countless prominent visiting and permanent international professors, lecturers and fellows alongside the local academic staff.

Students and alumni
The university has a considerable number of international students and alumni and participates to different global academic exchange initiatives such as the Erasmus Programme.

Admissions
South East European University (SEEU) has a selective admission policy based on students' previous academic record and grades.

University Board
The University Board is currently composed of a total of seven members:

 * Klaus Tochtermann
 * Veli Kreci
 * Elena Dumova-Jovanoska
 * Nebi Hoxha
 * John Parrish - Sprowel
 * Visar Shehu
 * Veronika Kareva

title: South East European University


text:
Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/VfD-Winston Churchill Quotes

Move to Wikiquote. RickK 22:05, 16 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Agree. That is what wikiquote is for. Kingturtle 22:24, 16 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Ditto, wikiquote. --Starx 01:32, 17 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Definitely quotes. Transwiki and delete. -- Cyrius|&#9998 02:31, May 17, 2004 (UTC)
 * transwiki and delete. link quotes article to biography --Jiang 01:39, 21 May 2004 (UTC)