The second new Type 31 frigate destined for the Royal Navy, HMS Active, has been rolled out ahead of her launch and steel has been cut on the fourth.
Shipbuilder Babcock held a twin celebration at its Rosyth shipyard near Edinburgh, Scotland yesterday evening (Tuesday) to mark its continuing progress in building the Inspiration-class warships.
The first steel was cut yesterday on HMS Bulldog, the fourth of the five Type 31s in the RN programme; the first-in-class, HMS Venturer was rolled out in May last year and is undergoing fitting out and the third, HMS Formidable, is under construction in the build hall.
But the most visual element of yesterday’s event was the rollout of HMS Active ahead of her launch. She will shortly enter the water for the first time and then be towed back to Rosyth to continue her own fitting-out programme.
Babcock noted: “With each ship, the lessons learned, practical knowledge and experience in sequencing, integration and supply chain management is further embedded into the programme, informing the planning and delivery of future builds.
“Design improvements arising from the first two ships are already enhancing build efficiency for ships three and four.”
And Babcock CEO David Lockwood added: “Delivering the Steel Cut for HMS Bulldog and the Rollout of HMS Active on the same day is a powerful demonstration of the drive and delivery focus of our Type 31 programme as we build the next modern, future ready fleet for the Royal Navy.
“These milestones show the maturity of our facility, the success of the design and build process, and the skill and dedication of our Babcock team.”
Royal Navy Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse, said: “These milestones reflect the momentum, ambition and national commitment behind the regeneration of our future frigate force.
“The Type 31 Inspiration class represents a major step forward in modernising our fleet. These are capable and adaptable ships, designed to give the Royal Navy the flexibility it needs in a fast-changing strategic environment.
“Their combat systems and modular design will allow upgrades throughout their life, ensuring they can meet both today’s threats and those we cannot yet see.”
The firm’s Arrowhead 140 design, the basis for the Type 31, is also being used by Poland for its Miecznik frigate programme by Indonesia, which is building Arrowhead 140‑based warships under licence.
The firm is hopeful of securing further export orders, with both Sweden and Denmark considering the Arrowhead platform among options for their new frigate programmes; decision from both nations are expected this spring.
- You can read more details on the Babcock website