Type 31 frigate

Type 31 frigate
Name	Type 31 frigate
Builders	Babcock International
Operators	Royal Navy
Type	General-purpose frigate
Displacement	5,700 tonnes
Length	138.7 m
Beam	19.8 m
Draught	4.8 m
Propulsion	CODAD (4 × MAN 16V28/33D STC diesels)
Speed	In excess of 24 knots
Range	9,000+ nautical miles
Complement	80–100 (accommodation for 180)

Type 31 frigate. The Type 31 frigate, also known as the Inspiration-class, is a class of five general-purpose frigates being built for the Royal Navy. Designed as a lower-cost, adaptable counterpart to the more complex Type 26 frigate, the program aims to sustain British shipbuilding and increase fleet numbers. These vessels are intended for a wide range of global missions, including maritime security, counter-piracy, and humanitarian assistance.

Design and development

The program emerged from the National Shipbuilding Strategy outlined by Sir John Parker and was formally launched by the Ministry of Defence in 2015. The competitive procurement process, known as the Future Frigate competition, was won in 2019 by the Babcock International Team 31 consortium with their Arrowhead 140 design, based on the proven Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate from the Royal Danish Navy. Key design principles emphasized modularity, commercial off-the-shelf technology, and reduced through-life costs compared to previous Royal Navy warships like the Type 23 frigate. The design and development phase involved extensive work at Babcock's facilities in Rosyth and Plymouth.

Construction and launch

The manufacturing contract was awarded to Babcock International in November 2019, with the first steel cut for the lead ship, HMS ''Venturer'', in September 2021 at the Rosyth Dockyard. The second ship, HMS ''Active'', began construction in 2022, followed by the third, HMS ''Bulldog'', in 2023. The ceremonial keel-laying for Venturer took place in April 2022, attended by senior figures from the Royal Navy and Babcock International. The build strategy utilizes a modular approach, with blocks fabricated at various UK yards including Babcock's site in Appledore and Harland and Wolff in Belfast, before final assembly at Rosyth.

Specifications

The vessels have an overall length of 138.7 meters, a beam of 19.8 meters, and a full-load displacement of approximately 5,700 tonnes. Propulsion is provided by a CODAD arrangement of four MAN 16V28/33D STC diesel engines, driving two shafts for a speed in excess of 24 knots. The design incorporates significant space, weight, and power reserves for future upgrades, and the ships have an endurance of over 9,000 nautical miles. The flight deck is capable of operating a Merlin or Wildcat helicopter, and there is a mission bay under the flight deck for unmanned systems or containerized mission modules.

Armament and systems

The primary anti-air warfare system is the Sea Ceptor missile system, launched from a 24-cell CAMM silo, providing local area air defence. The main gun is a Bofors 57 mm Mk 110 naval gun, with two Bofors 40 mm Mk 4 secondary guns for close-in defence. For anti-surface warfare, the ships will be equipped with a suite of Martlet and Sea Venom missiles launched from the embarked helicopter. The combat management system is the Thales TACTICOS, integrating sensors including the BAE Systems Artisan 997 radar and the Kelvin Hughes SharpEye navigation radar.

Operational history

As of 2024, no vessels have been delivered or entered service with the Royal Navy. The lead ship, HMS ''Venturer'', is scheduled for delivery in 2025, with the entire class of five ships expected to be operational by the early 2030s. They are planned to replace the remaining general-purpose Type 23 frigates, such as HMS ''Argyll'' and HMS ''Lancaster'', on global patrol duties. The class is expected to operate extensively in regions like the Persian Gulf, the South China Sea, and the Caribbean.

Export and international interest

The design has attracted significant international attention, with the Polish Navy selecting a variant, known as the Miecznik-class frigate, for its new frigate program in 2022. Indonesia has also signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire two Arrowhead 140 frigates, to be built through collaboration between Babcock International and PT PAL. The design has been marketed to other navies, including those of Greece and Ukraine, as a modern, affordable, and capable multi-role platform. This export success supports the United Kingdom's industrial and foreign policy objectives under initiatives like Global Britain.

Category:Frigate classes Category:Ships of the Royal Navy Category:Cold War frigates of the United Kingdom