The UK Ministry of Defense has announced that construction has begun on the third Type 31 frigate for the Royal Navy. 

The “iron cut” ceremony took place at the Rosyth shipyard in Scotland and is estimated to help maintain 2,500 jobs, making a significant contribution to the country’s economy.

HMS Formidable is the third of five Type 31 frigates to join the British Navy, replacing the Type 23s. They are considered multi-role vessels and can be used in coastal defence, counter-piracy and freedom of navigation operations, operations gathering intelligence, and intercepting aerial threats. 

Technical characteristics Type 31:

• Speed: 26 knots
• Personnel: 100 people
• Length: 138 m.
• Weight: 5600 tons
• Endurance: 9000 nautical miles

Her armament may include MBDA’s Sea Ceptor anti-aircraft system with CAMM missiles, anti-submarine and anti-ship missiles, Mark 110, Mk4, and 12.7 mm machine guns, and can support 32 Mark 41 vertical launch cells. It also incorporates Thales’ Tacticos combat system and the same company’s AESA radar. It can also carry a helicopter and/or UAV, depending on the size and type.

The Type 31s are based on Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 design, which Poland has also chosen for its own ships.

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