UK awards £70mln deal for Type 31 frigate test and integration facility

The UK Government has awarded a £70 million contract for a shore-based test and integration facility equipped for Type 31 frigate program.

The contract contract will provide equipment and technical services into the Type 31 Mission System Shore Integration Facility at Portsdown Technology Park, the Royal Navy’s test and integration facility in Portsmouth.

The facility will ensure the mission systems and equipment, which will be fitted to the five Type-31 or Inspiration-class frigates.

With a significant UK-based supply chain, this contract is one of many that will support the manufacture and testing of the Type 31 vessels before entering the fleet. Defence company Babcock International will build the vessels.

“I am incredibly proud of the Type 31 team at DE&S who have worked collaboratively and with great endeavour to secure this critical contract as the ships move ever closer to entering service with the Royal Navy,” DE&S Director General Ships Vice-Admiral Paul Marshall said.

Type 31 will be equipped with innovative technology and will benefit from MBDA’s Sea Ceptor, a supersonic anti-air missile defence system, as well as a 57mm and two 40mm Bofors naval guns, and a 4D radar system.

The newest of the Royal Navy’s frigate fleet will undertake a variety of roles on operations including interception and disruption of illegal activity at sea, intelligence gathering, defence engagement and providing humanitarian support.

The entire Type 31 fleet is expected to be delivered by the end of 2028 and to enter service with the Royal Navy by the end of 2030.