Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

[abc123]

I wonder will any foreign builders submit?

What, you think that anybody is willing to bet will Corbyn become the PM or not or will the Conservatives ( as they are used to ) cancel the whole project or will Scotland secede or will British economy sink after Brexit etc.?
Such people go to William Hill...

[abc123]

An interesting quote

"The MOD says it is now considering a whopping 20 different proposals to build Type 31e."

No doubt they will choose the worst and most expencive...

[Halidon]

An interesting quote

"The MOD says it is now considering a whopping 20 different proposals to build Type 31e."

No doubt they will choose the worst and most expencive...

Well you'll notice they didn't say "20 different proposals which all fall within the price cap."

[abc123]

An interesting quote

"The MOD says it is now considering a whopping 20 different proposals to build Type 31e."

No doubt they will choose the worst and most expencive...

Well you'll notice they didn't say "20 different proposals which all fall within the price cap."

Indeed.

[Aethulwulf]

Jane's is reporting that BAE Systems is suggesting its T31 design to the Royal Thai Navy.

The RTN is currently buying a light frigate from South Korea with delivery expected in August 2018. The RTN have a requirement for at least one more light frigate, with money available from 2019.

BAE would offer to locally build the T31 in partnership with a Thai dockyard, in a similar arrangement to the current OPV builds.

[dmereifield]

Jane's is reporting that BAE Systems is suggesting its T31 design to the Royal Thai Navy.

The RTN is currently buying a light frigate from South Korea with delivery expected in August 2018. The RTN have a requirement for at least one more light frigate, with money available from 2019.

BAE would offer to locally build the T31 in partnership with a Thai dockyard, in a similar arrangement to the current OPV builds.

Interesting...here is the link:

http://www.janes.com/article/75449/defe ... r-thailand

I can't see beyond the paywall, are there any detail about specs or costs etc?

What are the chances of the RTN going for a different light frigate (corvette/whatever) design with likely different weapons and sensors etc than their current light frigates about to enter service?

[xav]

Babcock and BMT Sign Cooperation Agreement for Type 31 Frigate Programme

Babcock and BMT have signed a cooperation agreement, which outlines the principles of a strategic relationship that will see the companies collaborate to support the Design, Build, Construction and Support of future classes of Surface Ships for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and other international projects.

The initial focus will be cooperation on the recently announced Type31e programme and the ability to offer a world-leading UK design alliance solution to the MoD.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.p ... ramme.html

The announcement is made official now (via press release) but as you may recall (or hear in the above link) we got the exclusive of this announcement during DSEI, while we interviewed BMT on Type 31...

[Aethulwulf]

Interesting...here is the link:

http://www.janes.com/article/75449/defe ... r-thailand

I can't see beyond the paywall, are there any detail about specs or costs etc?

What are the chances of the RTN going for a different light frigate (corvette/whatever) design with likely different weapons and sensors etc than their current light frigates about to enter service?

There are no more real details beyond the paywall.

Leaves the impression that this is as much about BAE promoting to a UK audience the potential exportability of their T31 design as it is about any real prospect of the RTN buying a T31.

[Ron5]

Or the Bae worldwide presence and ability to sell.

[Aethulwulf]

Babcock and BMT Sign Cooperation Agreement for Type 31 Frigate Programme

Babcock and BMT have signed a cooperation agreement, which outlines the principles of a strategic relationship that will see the companies collaborate to support the Design, Build, Construction and Support of future classes of Surface Ships for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and other international projects.

The initial focus will be cooperation on the recently announced Type31e programme and the ability to offer a world-leading UK design alliance solution to the MoD.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.p ... ramme.html

The announcement is made official now (via press release) but as you may recall (or hear in the above link) we got the exclusive of this announcement during DSEI, while we interviewed BMT on Type 31...

Jane's is also reporting the formal signing of the Babcock BMT teaming arrangement on 7 Nov.

They report that the two companies have now agreed to jointly benchmark both the Arrowhead 120 and Venator 110 designs against the RN requirements during the current T31 Value Management phase. This will inform a downselect to a single design by the Babcock BMT team prior to the start of the T31 competitive phase in Spring 2018.

[Jake1992]

Babcock and BMT Sign Cooperation Agreement for Type 31 Frigate Programme

Babcock and BMT have signed a cooperation agreement, which outlines the principles of a strategic relationship that will see the companies collaborate to support the Design, Build, Construction and Support of future classes of Surface Ships for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and other international projects.

The initial focus will be cooperation on the recently announced Type31e programme and the ability to offer a world-leading UK design alliance solution to the MoD.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.p ... ramme.html

The announcement is made official now (via press release) but as you may recall (or hear in the above link) we got the exclusive of this announcement during DSEI, while we interviewed BMT on Type 31...

Jane's is also reporting the formal signing of the Babcock BMT teaming arrangement on 7 Nov.

They report that the two companies have now agreed to jointly benchmark both the Arrowhead 120 and Venator 110 designs against the RN requirements during the current T31 Value Management phase. This will inform a downselect to a single design by the Babcock BMT team prior to the start of the T31 competitive phase in Spring 2018.

Are there still plans for possible hybrid of the 2 ?
It'd greet see what that hybrid would end up like

[Aethulwulf]

I have not seen any mention of any plans of a Arrowhead / Venator hybrid anywhere...

...other than in some of the more "semi-detached from reality" posts on this forum. They have announced they will be assessing the two designs in parallel before picking just one to take forward.

Clearly at the system and sub-system levels, there will be a good degree of cross-fertilisation of ideas and problem solving between BMT and Babcocks. But a whole new 'hybrid design' would be costly and time consuming.

[Jake1992]

I have not seen any mention of any plans of a Arrowhead / Venator hybrid anywhere...

...other than in some of the more "semi-detached from reality" posts on this forum. They have announced they will be assessing the two designs in parallel before picking just one to take forward.

Clearly at the system and sub-system levels, there will be a good degree of cross-fertilisation of ideas and problem solving between BMT and Babcocks. But a whole new 'hybrid design' would be costly and time consuming.

On the dsei video interviews that was posted on here, when talking to the representative from BMT he stated that they will be working in partnership with Babcock and that they would offer both designs or if the mod wanted the best parts of both ( a hybrid )

[Aethulwulf]

What he actually said was...

"...as we offer this design and Babcock's design, two different designs, as we start to explore well which do you prefer. And maybe you like a bit of this, maybe a bit of that and maybe we can bring it together."

A bit of this and a bit of that does not mean a whole new hybrid third design. It means at the system and sub-system levels, there will be a good degree of cross-fertilisation of ideas and problem solving between BMT and Babcocks. It means 'bits' of both designs will be altered and optimised as they are both taken through the Value Management process.

The two companies have annouced they have agreed to jointly benchmark both the Arrowhead 120 and Venator 110 designs against the RN requirements during the current T31 Value Management phase. This will inform a downselect to a single design by the Babcock BMT team prior to the start of the T31 competitive phase in Spring 2018.

No hybrid.

[Jake1992]

What he actually said was...

"...as we offer this design and Babcock's design, two different designs, as we start to explore well which do you prefer. And maybe you like a bit of this, maybe a bit of that and maybe we can bring it together."

A bit of this and a bit of that does not mean a whole new hybrid third design. It means at the system and sub-system levels, there will be a good degree of cross-fertilisation of ideas and problem solving between BMT and Babcocks. It means 'bits' of both designs will be altered and optimised as they are both taken through the Value Management process.

The two companies have annouced they have agreed to jointly benchmark both the Arrowhead 120 and Venator 110 designs against the RN requirements during the current T31 Value Management phase. This will inform a downselect to a single design by the Babcock BMT team prior to the start of the T31 competitive phase in Spring 2018.

No hybrid.

Abit of this abit of that ? What else could that be called other than a hybrid ??

[Ron5]

Saying that both companies have designs is a little bit of a stretch. Neither has a fully worked up design.

What they both have are concepts with a varying amount of work behind them.

To change one or the other will be as simple as generating a new CGI.

[cockneyjock1974]

I met him on a Friday and he worked for B.A.E!!

You do Ron Ron Ron you do Ron Ron.

[donald_of_tokyo]

Thai navy is building second River B2 variant.
They also stated they want a larger/more powerful version for future.

#Not confirmed in any sense, but at least, someone in Thai land says so from years ago.
https://thaimilitaryandasianregion.word ... -thailand/
https://thaimilitaryandasianregion.word ... ol-vessel/
As you can see, it is a blog written in early 2016.

If T31e is Cutlass, which is extended Khareef, BAE promoting T31e for Thai navy is very natural and (even) nothing new, because BAE have been promoting Khareef from at least 1.5 years ago.

[90inFIRST]

http://navaltoday.com/2017/11/10/uk-eye ... -warships/

On type 31? Doesn't sound likely

[RetroSicotte]

I partly suspect this is a mis-report of "UK considers CEAFAR radars on Type 26's to sell to Australia" and the reporter looking at it the wrong way around.

If not though, Type 26 refit? Unlikely. Type 31 would be an awful surprise to have it, but it may be one of these "20 proposal".

ie - "Consider" lots of things to deflect criticism by making it look like you're considering bigger things even if you have no intention.

[abc123]

http://navaltoday.com/2017/11/10/uk-eye ... -warships/

On type 31? Doesn't sound likely

Indeed, don't see why would they need anything better than Artisan...

[Aethulwulf]

http://navaltoday.com/2017/11/10/uk-eye ... -warships/

On type 31? Doesn't sound likely

Indeed, don't see why would they need anything better than Artisan...

Might be considered for the second batch of T26.

However, so far the UK has only committed to a study about the use of Ceafar radar. For the UK to actually buy Ceafar may well depend upon the Australian decision on T26 for their Future Frigates...

[abc123]

http://navaltoday.com/2017/11/10/uk-eye ... -warships/

On type 31? Doesn't sound likely

Indeed, don't see why would they need anything better than Artisan...

Might be considered for the second batch of T26.

However, so far the UK has only committed to a study about the use of Ceafar radar. For the UK to actually buy Ceafar may well depend upon the Australian decision on T26 for their Future Frigates...

Yeah, some sort of offset.

[marktigger]

the ability to be fitted with non RN systems will make this new generation of frigates much more exportable so a good move

[jonas]

As far as cost is concerned, then if this article is correct CEAFAR appears to be a snip :-


"Central to this is the CEAFAR radar. Unlike conventional radars that employ a rotating antenna, this uses six fixed radar panels that provide constant 360-degree scanning out to 60 nautical miles.

Whereas the previous Anzac system could respond to just one threat at a time, the new system can detect, classify and respond to multiple threats in seconds.

This is most comparable to the Aegis combat system aboard US warships, which is also being installed on Australia's new air warfare destroyers.

Aegis can cover a larger area and defend against a ballistic missile attack, but CEAFAR is regarded as cheaper and well suited to smaller vessels and even land defence. About $20 million a system, CEAFAR is about one-third the price.

CEA chief executive Merv Davis said Aegis remained king, but the gap would close as his system was further developed.

"There is not a lot to it," he said. "It fits quite comfortably into relatively small ships. To retrofit is very simple."