Royal Navy's Type 23 Frigate Life Extension Programme Completed

Babcock has completed a four-year-long series of upgrades to the Royal Navy’s HMS Sutherland, marking the completion of the force's Type 23 frigate life extension programme.

The Duke-class frigate, now equipped to continue in active service into the mid-2030s, has returned to sea with an upgraded 2150 sonar system and the newly fitted Sea Ceptor missile air defence system, as per a recent Royal Navy press statement.

Described by the Royal Navy as the fastest ship in the fleet, she has also received engine, generator and machinery control upgrades during the overhaul, undertaken at the HMNB Devonport dockyard.

HMS Devonport was commissioned in 1997 and has been deployed to regions as disparate as the Falkland Islands, Iraq, and the Pacific. She was also the first vessel assigned to escort HMS Queen Elizabeth when the aircraft carrier embarked on her own sea trials in the summer of 2017.

Commanding Officer, Commander James Wallington-Smith, said: "HMS Sutherland has benefitted from a signification modernisation and extension of key weapons, sensors, and equipment in this extensive refit.” 

He added: “This accomplishment is down to the hard graft and considerable efforts of both the ship's company and Babcock working closely together to deliver success. The ship and her crew are now ready to continue the next stage of trials and training in the return to operations."

Sir Nick Hine, Chief Executive of Babcock’s Marine Sector, said: “After a significant upkeep programme, it is fantastic to see HMS Sutherland starting sea trials and well on her way to achieving full capability before re-joining the fleet.

“Our team has provided trusted expertise, utilising our long-standing through-life support experience to ready the ship before she recommences her journey to support the nation’s defence."

HMS Sutherland has now begun sea trials and training ahead of re-joining the Royal Navy fleet for deployments with an emphasis on anti-submarine warfare (ASW), the role for which she was principally designed.

• You can read more details on the Royal Navy website