Defense company Thales has completed factory acceptance tests (FATs) for both the mission system and the combat system on the Royal Navy’s new Type 31 Inspiration-class frigates, marking major milestones in one of the UK’s most significant naval programs.
The mission system FATs were completed at the end of April 2025, while combat system FATs followed at the end of June 2025.
Thales’s combat management system (CMS), TACTICOS, functions as the operational heart of the UK’s Type 31 frigates. It will be the central command and decision-making part of these frigates’ combat systems.
Its function and performance – supporting sensor control, picture compilation, situation assessment, action support, and weapon control – are critical to the operational effectiveness of the naval vessel, the company noted.
With all FATs now complete, the program will move on to land-based testing at the Shore Integration Facility, before being installed on board the HMS Venturer, the first of the five Type 31 Inspiration-class frigates, the construction of which is underway at Babcock’s Rosyth facility.
This summer, HMS Venturer completed its first entry into the water.
“The successful completion of the Mission and Combat Systems FATs marks another significant step forward for the Type 31 programme and reflects the strength of our collaboration with Thales and our wider industry partners. Together, we are delivering a world-class capability for the Royal Navy and creating a strong foundation for the future of the Inspiration Class frigates,” Paul Watson , Arrowhead Managing Director at Babcock, said.
“Working closely with our Royal Navy and Babcock colleagues, we are delighted to have successfully completed this critical stage in the development of the Royal Navy’s new Type 31 frigates. It represents another demonstration of Thales’s proven ability to deliver integrated naval mission systems to the highest standards,” Andy Laing , Managing Director, Above Water Systems UK, Thales, commented.
The Type 31 frigates are the Royal Navy’s next-generation general-purpose warships designed to replace some of the aging Type 23 frigates. The frigates are based on Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 design, which is also exported to Indonesia and Poland.
The program is making rapid progress and is now well into its multi-ship build phase with three ships in production. The Royal Navy will receive a total of five Type 31 frigates, completed within 10 years from the point of initial contract award.
Each Type 31 frigate measures approximately 139 meters in length with a beam of about 20 meters, and they displace between 5,700 and 7,000 tonnes. Powered to reach speeds over 26 knots, the ships have an operational range of roughly 7,500 nautical miles.
These ships are intended to be highly versatile and adaptable platforms suitable for a wide range of missions, including maritime security, escort duties, disaster relief, and future naval warfare involving unmanned systems.