Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Contains threads on Royal Navy equipment of the past, present and future.

What will be the result of the 'Lighter Frigate' programme?

Programme cancelled, RN down to 14 escorts
52
10%
Programme cancelled & replaced with GP T26
14
3%
A number of heavy OPVs spun as "frigates"
127
25%
An LCS-like modular ship
22
4%
A modernised Type 23
24
5%
A Type 26-lite
71
14%
Less than 5 hulls
22
4%
5 hulls
71
14%
More than 5 hulls
103
20%
 
Total votes: 506

Scimitar54
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by Scimitar54 »

Desperation class would seem to fit the bill most appropriately, UNLESS the weapons fit is subsequently improved. However, in that case, it might well be deduced that it might have been cheaper to have armed them to the improved standard at initial build. :idea: , but too late now it would seem! :mrgreen:

tomuk
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by tomuk »

Babcock introduces Arrowyard™ to its portfolio of global ship build and support

Babcock the aerospace, defence and security company has launched a dynamic new approach within global shipbuilding that enables international customers to build and support the company’s Arrowhead 140™ frigate (AH140) in-country, delivering a range of potential economic and social benefits to local and national communities.

Arrowyard™ developed from Babcock’s rich engineering know-how and shipbuilding experience, brings together a comprehensive range of technology and knowledge transfer options to create the conditions for the domestic construction of the AH140 by optimising customers’ in-country shipbuilding and industrial capabilities.
https://www.babcockinternational.com/ne ... d-support/

donald_of_tokyo
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by donald_of_tokyo »

Indonesia! (bust just design = not MUCH to do with UK ship building industry, but surely not zero).


Jdam
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by Jdam »

What UK made equipment goes into the Arrowhead-140 design we have sold?

Timmymagic
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by Timmymagic »

Interesting....wonder which one...


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Ron5
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by Ron5 »

donald_of_tokyo wrote:Indonesia! (bust just design = not MUCH to do with UK ship building industry, but surely not zero).

Two??? Mmmm

BB85
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by BB85 »

I think Indonesia will order more and reduce their Fremm order from the Italians. I'm not sure how many UK components will actually be in the ships. I would expect a lot of it to come from Denmark and Germany. The sensors and cms are mostly European but I'm sure the UK and Babcock will get a decent piece of the pie. Interesting how Denmark was not able to export this successfully on their own. It shows the added influence the UK is able to add to defense exports. Global Britain and all that


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Jensy
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by Jensy »

Jdam wrote:What UK made equipment goes into the Arrowhead-140 design we have sold?
I daresay we all know the answer is **** all (with some exceptions)!

However nothing to dislike about getting a supposedly 'outdated and pedestrian' warship design onto the market.

Unlike Type 26 there may well be buyers out there who lack the capability to build Type 31 but have the money to buy one from us.

Lord Jim
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by Lord Jim »

Could this help with the competition for the Greek Navy's need for new Frigates?

Poiuytrewq
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by Poiuytrewq »

It's excellent news for the export prospects of Arrowhead140 but in financial terms this Indonesian deal appears to be small beer.

From today's Telegraph:

Babcock has landed the first export contract for its Arrowhead 140 lightweight frigate design from Indonesia, which will build the two of the ships in local yards.

The FTSE 250 defence company is selling five of the ships to the Royal Navy for £250m each. It has only provided the design to Indonesia and the new contract is understood to be worth less than £20m

donald_of_tokyo
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by donald_of_tokyo »

As he concludes, "Overall cost advantage of Arrowhead 140 is, the fact that she is designed for ease of construction, and ease of maintenance and through-life support, with great flexibility and adaptability, through out a service life of 35-40 years of life."


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Tempest414
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by Tempest414 »

All that matters is HMG can now tick the box and pat them self on the back that their big plan to build cheap ships for the navy that can be exported has worked the facts and the money are by the by they can now proudly polish the E part of Type 31e

inch
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by inch »

Can someone explain ,i might have missed something but the headlines saying another British success but shouldn't it be a Danish success ,not even designed British vessel unlike the t26 ,There really nothing British about it except mod chosen Danish ship with a mod preferred weapons fit out or am I missing something ?

Caribbean
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by Caribbean »

Remind me how many the Danes sold? Success isn't all about engineering
The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
Winston Churchill

wowu5
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by wowu5 »

donald_of_tokyo wrote:As he concludes, "Overall cost advantage of Arrowhead 140 is, the fact that she is designed for ease of construction, and ease of maintenance and through-life support, with great flexibility and adaptability, through out a service life of 35-40 years of life."


I spot something brand new from this clip, when he's talking about the modularity of the ship, one of the mast option shown appears to house a very large antenna array, with a shape similar to that of the Raytheon's SPY-6.

Image

Another angle shows that this unspecified radar is in a three-faces-configuration, which's another feature of (some versions) of the SPY-6.

Image

JohnM
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by JohnM »

Good catch… it looks like a 37 module SPY-6(V)1 like in the Flight III Burkes, but with 3 instead of 4 array faces… if true, it’s an incredible addition to the AH 140 design in the AAW arena…

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Ron5
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by Ron5 »

Poiuytrewq wrote:It's excellent news for the export prospects of Arrowhead140 but in financial terms this Indonesian deal appears to be small beer.

From today's Telegraph:

Babcock has landed the first export contract for its Arrowhead 140 lightweight frigate design from Indonesia, which will build the two of the ships in local yards.

The FTSE 250 defence company is selling five of the ships to the Royal Navy for £250m each. It has only provided the design to Indonesia and the new contract is understood to be worth less than £20m
I wonder how much of the 20 mill gets passed onto the Danes.

inch
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by inch »

Should be at least 19.5m ,well done Denmark well done ,just like the French Rafael, didn't sell for ages now have a few takers

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RichardIC
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by RichardIC »

New Zealand has expressed interest in T31...



... Just sayin'... 1:59.

NickC
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by NickC »

RichardIC wrote:New Zealand has expressed interest in T31...



... Just sayin'... 1:59.
1:11
"its not a front line complex warship it essentially for some constabulary roles, anti-piracy"
Think that one line short sentence sums up the T31 minimal capabilities.

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Ron5
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by Ron5 »

RichardIC wrote:New Zealand has expressed interest in T31...
When do they need new frigates?

donald_of_tokyo
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by donald_of_tokyo »

Ron5 wrote:
RichardIC wrote:New Zealand has expressed interest in T31...
Around 2035-36.

To date, none of UK shipyards got export order to be built in UK.

I think NZ is the (almost) only hope for Rosyth yard to build T31 (or if selected, T32) for export. Looking at RNZN approach, T31 mod with NavyPODS (or T32, if Babcock wins) will be a good candidate. NZ has a Babcock dock in the RNZN base. If any "final cosmetics" and/or maintenance and/or future upgrade can be done at the 181.4m long dry dock operated by Babcock NZ. (ref: https://www.babcock.com.au/engineering-services/ )

How to "involve" NZ in modified-T31 and/or T32 is very important for UK ship export. It is one of the few good chance.

JohnM
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by JohnM »

This just came out today and the second part sheds some light on the discussion we've been having here on possible benefits to the UK of the Indonesian AH140 order and what the IP situation is.

https://www.navylookout.com/small-warsh ... -scotland/

silabario
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Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Post by silabario »

south america is also an option to export the T31 frigate. Chile, Colombia, Peru and Brazil needs frigates to replace.

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