The Royal Navy's Comeback Begins: The Type 31 Frigate Looks Like a Powerhouse

What You Need to Know: The Royal Navy's new shipbuilding strategy aims to regain maritime prominence with the construction of five Type 31 frigates. These Inspiration-class vessels are designed as versatile, general-purpose ships capable of surface warfare, air defense, and intelligence gathering.

-Larger than their predecessors, the Type 31 frigates will require less crew while packing powerful weaponry, including a 57mm main gun, Sea Ceptor air defense system, and 32-cell Mark 41 Vertical Launching System.

-The HMS Formidable, currently being built in Scotland, is one of the five ships expected to enter service by 2027, enhancing the Royal Navy’s global deterrence capabilities.

Royal Navy's Type 31 Frigates: A New Era of Naval Power Begins

It has been quite some time since the Royal Navy ruled the waves. But now, under a new shipbuilding strategy, the United Kingdom seeks to regain some of its former glory on the seas and be once more a force to be reckoned with. 

As part of this strategy, the Royal Navy is building five frigates of a completely new class, the Type 31 frigate.  

Type 31 Frigate  

The Royal Navy started work on its third Type 31 Inspiration-class frigate. Named HMS Formidable, the third warship of the class is being built in Rosyth, Scotland, alongside the HMS Venturer and HMS Active. London expects to have all five Type 31 frigates ready by the end of the decade, with the first warship entering service around 2027.  

“This government is committed to making Britain secure at home and strong abroad. These frigates will be at the heart of the Royal Navy fleet, deterring aggression and supporting our military,” Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said. 

“Today’s significant milestone is backing the government’s mission to grow the economy by supporting thousands of jobs in Scotland and across the UK,” Pollard added.  

Type 31 frigates are all designed as general-purpose ships, meaning that they are jacks of all trades but masters of none. In terms of mission sets, the Type 31 frigates will be able to conduct surface warfare, air warfare, ground attack, and intelligence-gathering missions.  

The Inspiration-class vessels are going to be nearly sixty percent larger than the Type 23 frigates they will be replacing. However, even though larger, the new warships will require only sixty percent of the manpower of the old ships. Type 31 frigates will have a complement of approximately 120 officers and sailors.  

“This is a momentous occasion for all involved and we are proud to have marked this significant milestone in this way,” Commodore Stephen Roberts, the Royal Navy’s Senior Responsible Owner for the Type 31 program, stated. 

“When complete, this remarkable fleet of general-purpose frigates will deliver an impressive capability for [the] Royal Navy and play a huge role in the continued security and prosperity of our nation,” the Royal Navy officer added. 

In terms of weapon systems, Type 31 frigates will pack a 57mm main gun that will be able to take on threats in sea, air, and land, two 40mm Bofors guns, the Sea Ceptor air defense system, and a 32-cell Mark 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS), which can carry anti-ship, anti-air, and ground attack missiles. The frigates will also carry a helicopter.  

More and more countries are investing in frigates as a cheaper and faster option for surface combatants. The U.S. Navy, for example, is bringing back frigates into its fleet with the Constellation-class after a ten-year hiatus with no frigates in the active roster.  

With the Type 31 frigates, the Royal Navy seeks to come back into the game and increase the overall deterrence capabilities of the United Kingdom.  

About the Author: 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

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