Type 31 frigates 'taking shape' with new Royal Navy ships 'coming to life' - when will they enter fleet
.jpg?width=96&crop=1:1,smart)
Five Inspiration-class warships are being produced to replace their older counterparts
Sophisticated new frigates being built for the Royal Navy are ‘coming to life’.
Progress is being made to build Type 31 warships at the Babcock International facility in Glasgow, Scotland. Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse praised the project during a recent visit.
He said: “A fantastic opportunity to see the Babcock International Type 31 hulls including HMS Venturer taking shape. Brilliant to see the future of the Royal Navy coming to life — built for the challenges ahead and ready to deliver at the heart of our hybrid navy for decades to come.”
A total of five General Purpose Frigates will be added to the fleet, replacing some of their aging Type 23 counterparts. They will be tasked with carrying out a range of operations including maritime security patrols, anti-piracy missions, disaster relief operations, diplomatic engagements, and other tasks.
The first of the two vessels, HMS Venturer and Active, are currently in the fitting out phase in the dry docks. This involves installing internal systems including engines and propulsion units, machinery, and accommodation - effectively turning the raw shell into a work vessel.
HMS Active took the water in March this year, following suit from HMS Venturer after she sailed for the first time in June 2025. The third ship, HMS Formidable, is currently in the Venturer Hall. A picture shared by Vice Adm Moorhouse showed a bow block alongside. Her keel was laid in December last year.
HMS Bulldog, the fourth of the five ships, is still in the very early stages of construction. Eyes are on the Babcock shipbuilding project, as well as BAE Systems’ production of the submarine-hunting Type 26 frigates, as the Royal Navy’s frigate force recently shrunk to just five.
Minister for defence readiness and industry, Luke Pollard, confirmed in a parliamentary written answer that HMS Venturer is due to be handed over to the force by the end of the decade. “All five ships are expected to be in service by the early 2030s,” he added.
Addressing the need to modernise the force, he said: “As set out in the Defence Investment Plan, the Ministry of Defence will be implementing a phased retirement Type 23 Frigates after decades of proud and faithful service.
“The government is investing in: new autonomous surface vessels; autonomous sub-surface; an amphibious fleet with the Netherlands; future Common Combat Vessels; and delivering a combined force of 13 Type 26 frigates with Norway expected to enter service from the late 2020s; five Type 31 frigates expected to be in service by the early 2030s; and new Fleet Solid Support ships.
“To avoid compromising operational security, the Ministry of Defence does not routinely disclose individual out of service dates or specific in-service dates for warships to avoid revealing elements of the Fleet's long-term schedule. However, the Royal Navy continues to ensure that it has sufficient assets available to deliver operational outputs.”