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The Babcock shipyard at Rosyth in Fife is on track to secure a lucrative contract to construct four frigates for the Danish navy, a deal valued at over £1 billion. Additionally, the yard is also competing with a French shipbuilding firm for a Swedish navy contract to potentially build up to seven Type 31 ships. The Swedish contract competition is intensifying, with strong support from the French government, and decisions on both contracts are anticipated within the next six months.
This surge in exports for Scottish shipbuilding follows the awarding of a contract to BAE Systems to build Type 26 frigates for the Royal Norwegian Navy, highlighting a significant turnaround for the industry. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently visited Glasgow to celebrate the success of this contract. The Type 31 frigate, also known as Arrowhead 1400, is a more affordable and adaptable option designed to meet the needs of various navies. Based on a design already in use by the Danish navy, these frigates are more cost-effective to produce and are expected to be completed by 2030.
The Type 31 frigate is recognized as a versatile and adaptable ship, offering flexibility for different navies to select their preferred weapons systems. The focus has shifted towards prioritizing performance, cost, and timing, with Babcock’s director of the Type 31 program emphasizing the ship’s affordability and adaptability. Admiral Sir Nick Hine, a former Second Sea Lord in the Royal Navy, highlighted the unprecedented opportunity to deliver these ships in ten years, a feat never achieved before.
Babcock has set ambitious goals for the future, aiming to construct 31 Type 31 ships by 2031 through licensing the design to other shipyards. The company has already sold the design to Indonesia and Poland for construction in their respective yards. With plans to expand the Rosyth shipyard’s capabilities, Babcock anticipates potential workforce growth from 2,500 to 4,000 employees, pending successful bids in Denmark and Sweden. The yard’s diverse projects also include dismantling retired submarines powered by nuclear reactors, emphasizing the importance of workforce training and development in collaboration with local colleges
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