Engineering giant Babcock International Group Plc has officially been awarded a £1.25billion contract to build a new fleet of frigates for the Royal Navy.
The five ships will be out together at the defence company’s Rosyth Dockyard in Fife, Scotland, but will involve supply chains throughout the nation in line with the UK's shipbuilding strategy, therefore leading to expectation that work could trickle down to the Devonport dockyard in Plymouth.
More than 2,500 jobs across the UK are expected to be supported as a result of the Type 31 general-purpose frigates programme, including 150 jobs for new technical apprenticeships.
Following the comprehensive competitive process, the UK Government selected a consortium led by Babcock to make Arrowhead 140, a capable, adaptable and technology-enabled global frigate.
The firm said work on the fleet will begin immediately now the the formal contract is awarded, with detailed design work first and manufacture starting in 2021.
The Government has committed to buying at least five of the low-cost warships for the Royal Navy, with the first vessel expected to be in the water by 2023. Manufacture will conclude in 2027.
In a statement to the Stock Exchange, Babcock said: “The Type 31 general-purpose frigate programme will provide the UK with a fleet of five ships, at an average production cost of £250million per ship.
“The formal contract award follows the announcement earlier this year that Babcock's Team 31 had been selected as preferred bidder following a competitive process.
“Babcock's Arrowhead 140 is a capable, adaptable and technology-enabled global frigate with a proven design and build strategy.
“The frigates will be assembled at Babcock's Rosyth facility, and involve supply chains throughout the UK, in line with the UK's shipbuilding strategy.”
The vessels will be fitted with the world-leading Sea Ceptor missile system, a range of highly advanced weapon and sensor systems and a combat system with a 4D air and surface surveillance and target indication radar.
They will also have capabilities to operate with a Merlin or Wildcat helicopter.
Babcock Team 31 is led by aerospace and defence giant Babcock, but involves another leading defence supplier, Thales, and also defence firms BMT, Harland & Wolff and Ferguson Marine.
In the new partnership Babcock will act as the overall programme lead, whilst Thales will have overall responsibility for the development of the Mission System solution.
Babcock and BMT, which also has a base in Plymouth, will use their experience in the development of designs for naval and commercial vessels.
In 2018 Babcock said its facilities in Plymouth would have a key role to play, and that a “highly experienced team” will seek to deliver capable, cost-effective and flexible ships to the Royal Navy and, use the team’s “considerable international reach” to maximise export opportunities.
Babcock said it aims to build on the success of its role within the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, which delivered HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier.
