Union warns Royal Navy's Type 31 frigate could ... - STV News
Around 100 Unite members at the Rosyth yard employed by contractor Kaefer are set to strike after overwhelmingly supporting industrial action.
news.stv.tvHere’s the latest I can provide on the Type 31 frigate based on the most recent publicly available reporting:
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UK defence press updates (circa 2024–2025) indicate the Royal Navy’s Type 31 programme was progressing with HMS Venturer nearing launch and the subsequent ships in the class advancing through steel-cutting and hull assembly milestones. The lead vessel was expected to launch later in 2025 and the class was planned to include five ships built by Babcock at the Rosyth yard.[1][6]
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In parallel, system integration work continued with Thales responsible for the Mission System and Combat System integration (TACTICOS), including FATs completed in 2024–2025 and moving toward shore-based integration before installation on the first ship, HMS Venturer. A later update noted main FATs for both the Mission and Combat Systems had been completed by late 2025, signaling progress toward final installation and handover.[3][4][5]
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Contextual development: initial reporting in 2024–2025 also highlighted the plan to equip Type 31s with extended strike capability, with discussions around potential missiles under consideration including the Naval Strike Missile, Tomahawk, or a Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon, reflecting ongoing capability debates for the class.[2]
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Build status and milestones: several outlets described ongoing construction across multiple hulls at Rosyth, with steel-cutting and subsequent hull assembly milestones for the vessels in the class, as part of a programme intended to bolster the Royal Navy by the end of the decade.[6][8]
If you’d like, I can search for more recent updates or provide a concise comparison of the Type 31’s planned capabilities versus other contemporaneous frigate programs.
Citations:
- Type 31 progress and HMS Venturer nearing launch.[1]
- Additional programme progress on Active and Formidable, and CIP contracts.[1]
- Thales mission/combat system tests and handover milestones.[4][5][3]
- Development notes on missile options and land-attack capability discussions.[2]
- Rosyth build milestones and broader programme context.[8][6]