Development of a brand new class of warship for the Royal Navy have ground to a halt pending a review.

Updates on the project to build Type 32 warships have continued to stall, while the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is “continuously evaluating” its military capabilities. Andrew Rosindell, Conservative MP for Romford, asked in a parliamentary written question when the first of these frigates will be commissioned.

Progress on the Type 32 warship project for the Royal Navy has ground to a halt, pending a review. Pictured is the Type 31 warship HMS Venturer. | Royal Navy

placeholder image — Progress on the Type 32 warship project for the Royal Navy has ground to a halt, pending a review. Pictured is the Type 31 warship HMS Venturer. | Royal Navy

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard, said: “The Ministry of Defence is continuously evaluating its capabilities, including potential enhancements to the Royal Navy's fleet. As stated in the Strategic Defence Review, the Royal Navy is transitioning towards a Hybrid Navy, delivering a mixed fleet of crewed and un-crewed vessels.

These will be delivered through faster, smarter procurement and enabled by modular, reconfigurable technology and scalable platforms to increase mass and effect. Future capability plans for the Royal Navy are being considered as part of the Defence Investment Plan (DIP). It would be inappropriate to provide further detail at this time.”

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The last government update on the Type 32 project was given in April. Then minister of defence procurement, Maria Eagle, said officials were overseeing the concept phase. The programme was originally announced in 2020 as part of the government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.

There is no definitive timetable for the design and procurement of the vessels. Focus has been firmly on the modernised Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, with shipbuilding continuing to progress in an effort to replace their Type 23 counterparts.

As previously reported by the UK Defence Journal, defence analysts have made assertions on the Type 32 vessels, stating they would either be a new class of warship or an expansion of the Type 31 fleet. These Inspiration-class vessels, due to be based in Portsmouth, will have a general purpose remit. They will be tasked with anti drug-smuggling operations, security patrols, disaster relief, humanitarian aid response, and other duties.