Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon paid a visit to A&P Tyne near Newcastle today as part of his nationwide tour of UK shipyards.
He indicated that the yard that could be involved in building a new class of ships for the Royal Navy.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:
“It is very encouraging to witness the renaissance of shipbuilding around the UK first hand. Having helped build our new aircraft carriers and the Astute Class submarines, A&P Tyne have the skills and expertise to bid for our brand new class of frigates.
The whole industry is clearly excited about the opportunity to build cutting-edge ships for our growing Royal Navy, which will protect our nation and interests across the world.”
Shipyards across the country have been invited to provide initial high-level proposals to build the initial order of five ships at a maximum average price of £250 million each.
According to a press release, the Defence Secretary was given a guided tour of the Hebburn-based yard which employs 300 workers including 11 new apprentices and boasts the largest dry dock on the north-east coast of England.
“With the commitment to build the Type 31e warships in the UK, A&P have the opportunity to compete for this latest programme to build ships for the Royal Navy.
The frigates will be designed to meet the needs of the Royal Navy, but also with the export market in mind. The Government will work with industry to provide support to become internationally competitive, boosting the UK economy and jobs, while also helping to create a more stable and well-protected world.
Having already paid visits to Cammell Laird in Merseyside, Harland and Wolff in Belfast and Ferguson Marine on the Clyde, the Defence Secretary has carried out extensive engagement with industry in recent weeks.
Sir Michael also visited BAE Systems’ Scotstoun yard in Glasgow for the naming of the latest Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMS Medway, and Babcock in Rosyth for the naming of the second aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, in further engagement with UK shipyards.”
He’s at it again. Growing Royal Navy.
In fairness Daniele, every ship at sea is growing, I’m sure that’s what he meant.
Even with advanced paint technology, barnacles are still a growing problem.
Yeah typical government spin. All in the wording. When I used to make FOIA requests I had to be careful words I’d use as they’d wriggle out of it.
dads army LOL
“for our growing Royal Navy”
The cheek, I’ll never vote Tory again for how they’ve run our armed forces into the ground over the last ten years.
Damned if we do damned if we don’t would you rather have that sniffling IRA supporter Corbyn in?
the guy is a right idiot always bangs on about our defense budget and how the navy is getting bigger,well could he explain why a load of marines are facing losing there jobs as well as thinking of getting rid of our amphibious ships,Tory governments have done nothing to help or protect our armed forces,the only thing they protect is their own interests like lining their own pockets and giving money we don,t have away to other countries….
Hey, the RN is “growing” again today…
Goodo….
I completely echo the sentiment from everyone so far. I also fear the Type 31e has disaster written all over it. Despite what Fallon is spouting, the fact is that it will be a design dictated by the Treasury and not the needs of the RN. We’ve seen this movie before with Types 21 and 42….. In today’s world you have to pay to play and since HMG is not willing to pay, these ships will be nothing more than floating liabilities. The constant stream of idiotic and irresponsible cuts and penny-pinching to our Armed Forces truly makes for a… Read more »
Is that graphic the Spartan design?
Good Day!
As regards the Type31e Frigate is there any news on BMT‘s Ventor design?
I thought this was one of the front runners previously?
Nick Hamburg
I have little time for Fallon – not 3 months since signing an open declaration that the Govt will never again send our troops into battle with inferior kit, he is presiding over building a warship that does not conform to RN war fighting standards. Whilst I am a big fan of the T31 concept and actually think we should build 1 per year indefinitely. I am concerned that they are the naval version of the snatch land rover. There is nothing wrong with the size or fit out of the proposed vessels as they are similar in size to… Read more »
It will be a ‘snatch Landrover’.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/type-31e-frigate-build-opportunity-ap-tyne-near-newcastle-says-defence-secretary/
The phrase on page 4 is ‘pragmatic balance between Military and Civilian standards’.
Sorry, wrong link
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/645149/T31e_RFI.pdf
We’re doomed, doomed. doomed. Facts:- Daniele. Navy is growing… in capability, bot not ships. Levi. The net loss, so far, since the Tories came to power (seven years ago) is four Batch three Type 22’s that were equipped with obsolescent systems – according to the R.N. Andy. Nothing’s happened yet, despite all the speculation. Geoff…good name! David. Why. there are five pretty good designs and none yet selected. Paul and Nick. I don’t know. Pacman27. Point taken but let’s see what is proposed. Me. I think I favour Ventor. TH…nice to have your predictions with us as always. Finally. try… Read more »
I am a full blown Corbyn supporter and Leftie if you like. However, that does not mean I don’t have full support for a strong military. History has shown us the lessons of being poorly prepared for any eventuality. I really doubt Corbyn would leave is defencless. Just because he is a pacifist doesn’t mean he wouldn’t want to be able to be defencless if war came to us. He just doesn’t want to needlessly take war to others, nor do I. I’m sure he recently stated defence spending to remain if labour came to power. Please provide evidence if… Read more »
Tum it’s SO refreshing to hear a leftie saying what you do.
I do hope you’re right regards Corbyn but I do fear the worst wuth him, his chancellor who wants the IRA honoured and Diane Abbot who.. .well where to start!
Damn auto correct TIM
I respect your comments Tim. I actually contribute to the Oxford Research Group who try to find other ways of dealing with conflict in the world than war. However, I think any man who thinks he can build a nuclear deterrent force of submarines without their missiles is really not to be trusted. Also, pacifism does not include supporting terrorist regimes or groups or speaking up for IRA and the PLO and having meetings with such organisations whilst our guys are being shot at. I wouldn’t trust him on the left any more than I would trust the likes of… Read more »
Reading Mr Corbyn’s body language, mannerisms and general demeanour. I have to say that he would be predisposed to act like a rabbit in the headlights when a true life or death decisions is required to be made. He has constantly demonstrated that without a script or prior knowledge he cannot make a firm decision. This has been frequently shown on impromptu interviews and challenges. As a true pacifist, can he entrusted with the position of PM. I’m neither politically biased left or right, but I am biased when the decision to put our people in harms way or not… Read more »
But it’s not growing in terms of numbers of hulls, which is probably what most people would take it to mean, so it is wrong. Yes, it’s growing in terms of capability, generally I’m quite happy with the way it’s going. It might even be growing in terms of tonnage, I can’t be bothered doing the maths. But in terms of numbers it’s replacements, not new ships, so he ought to be more specific if he wants not to be criticised. All it needs is something like “… opportunity to build cutting-edge ships for our increasingly capable Royal Navy”, and… Read more »
Reply 2. Anyway, with a budget coming up, he’s probably challenging Hammond to prove him a liar by making cuts to the defence budget 🙂
You might be right on both counts dads but your change of emphasis on THE sentence is good.
Sorry, I dont buy the “growing in capability, not hulls” dogma. What capability, when the MoD keep using the “equipped for but not with” description for the armament of our ships ?? Any confirmation that Harpoon has been reprieved yet ??? When are the T45s getting the Mk41 VLS ? Are we going to get the 1NT Aster30 variant ? They havent even put the Phalanxes on Lizzie despite 10 weeks in port…
Of course the Navy is growing in capability. It would be truly scandalous if brand new ships replacing 30 year old ones had inferior capability. A better question would be relative capability and in that the RN is declining even with the new carriers.
We need to take the discussion back one step. The fact is that a hull cannot be in 2 places at the same time. So capability cannot completely replace hull numbers. And once you take into account the T45 availability rate…..
I love the way you think you are the oracle TH. Whilst everyone else discusses what the best way forward may be in the difficult circumstances we face today, your high and mighty smugness just highlights to everyone what sort of person you are. You might be right on some of the decisions, but it doesn’t take a huge amount of intelligence to realise some hard choices have to made. So stop acting like a bloody no it all, stop talking down to people for hoping to get positive news for the defence of our country. Others on here say… Read more »
Well said. Self hating that lad.
Corbyn is a Russian sleeper
And his best mate MacDonald has admited hes a Marxist
He will align us with Russia
Im sure he gets secret payments from the Kremlin (but i have no proof)
Come on the the MI5 or MI6 look into it before its to late
The Security Service have files on them both, was in the news recently.
However, John Reid was once Defence Sec and was a card carrying Communist once I believe and Jack Straw the Home Secretary also had a Security Service file.
With all due respect to the various comments above, so much utter shite has been fed to us by the press whom seem to be able to twist perfectly reasonable beliefs and comments to suite their Tory masters desperately cling to power. Take everything with a pinch of salt until proven by multiple credible sources. He is not a Russian or an IRA supporter, he is just a man who wants to do things in a more honest fair way for society. My only concern is his quietness on defence matters. You can be a pacifist and still want to… Read more »
I don’t trust most of the press either but Tory masters.Come on Tim. You are quite right to be concerned about Corbyn’s quietness on defence, and here are some more reasons for him being very quiet. He has called repeatedly for the UK to withdraw from NATO and for the former Warsaw pact members to be banned from joining. In fact he has blamed NATO for the Russian Invasion of the Ukraine??? He is a long term supporter of what was Marxist Cuba, he spoke up for Argentina and refused to back the recovery of the Falklands and more recently… Read more »
Put up your evidence. I thought a Russian sleeper was the trans-Siberian express.
More fantasy sound-bite brainwashing from HMG spin dept. Just hope reality doesn’t crash in one day when 100s of our boys become casualties due to reckless cuts & lies.
All our frigates need to be fully equipped & war ready upon commissioning. It’s Russian roulette when “fitted for but not with”.
Trump may be a more likely candidate for a Russian sleeper. Time will tell what skeletons he has in the closet.
So moving US tanks back to Eastern Europe while demanding that EU countries actually pay for their defense. While also recommitting to missile defense makes President Trump a Russian agent. Well shove that where the sun doesn’t shine. Jeremy Corbyn saying that he would leak intel to Hamas to keep America and Israel from bombing them would be disastrous. For the UK only as the us would pretty much cut all sharing of information or resources then. If Corbyn was to say demand Israel give up half it’s land and withdraw diplomatic recognition of its sovereignty. The US after seeing… Read more »
Baz, speak to your local M.P. and register your concerns!
Well o great Schwami I predict no great sale of ships, a possible move of the RM to the Army and an eventual fleet of 8-10 Type 31, increasing escort numbers.
I did think the NSS was a good idea, but the union rep on the Clyde did make a good point about being a race to the bottom and shipyards going bust. The modern RN is more capable per hull, like the RAF, but far more compact in numbers, which means less work to go around.
So rather than competition being a good idea when there’s less to compete for, perhaps the UK does need one or two supported shipbuilders and designers for the future. In which case the NSS would be short-term because of falling budgets, not long-term.
The n.s.s. should have said all ships for the navy will be built in Britain, portion them out amongst the British shipyards and invest in making sure the capacity is there ahead of time. This is what Canada done in its n.s.s. Many, many ships for our navy, large ones at that, will be open to foreign competition, that is our national shipbuilding strategy is it? What a joke. Our n.s.s. is just a way of masking the deliberate and organized war against British heavy industry. In spite of their lies what they really want is to keep British shipbuilding… Read more »
C’mon everyone, so much negativity! The T31 is still in the very early stages, the final ‘mature’ design that is accepted will likely differ quite a bit from the preliminary offerings seen so far. The design history of the Type 23 is an example. The concept started life as a towed-Array ‘tug’ with little in the way of armament, and evolved into a superb frigate that is the backbone of todays Navy! Yes, some of the T31 equipment fit will be ‘hand-me-down’ from retiring 23’s, but much of this will have been fitted to them during their current mid-life upgrades… Read more »
I applaud your positive thinking but there isn’t the time for the Type 31 design to mature. The Type 23’s are really past their sell by date. The timeline for the first Type 31 batch is correctly very agressive. What is required now is decisiveness, not a quality for which the MOD is renowned.
Or not renowned…
Thank you Steve
I think it will all depend on how hard brexit hits us TH. If its goes badly for the economy, then little choice will be had and many of your predictions are likely true. If more money comes available in a few years, I would like to see something along the lines of: Reinstatement/up arming amphibious attack to modest but highly potent force. Most of this ability can be heavily used for disaster relief so will forfill multiple roles. I think there seems to be merit in the single force structure as discussed by more knowledgeable people on site already.… Read more »
Diesel sub market is already dominated by Japan, Germany, France, Russia, and South Korea. To the point where the US which normally attaches military aid to US products didn’t in the case of the Dolphins bought by the IDF. Rotor and Tilt-Rotors from who AugustaWestland has now been wholly eaten by Leonardo. The UK could have had the first deployed tilt-rotor back in the 60s with the Fairey Rotodyne. However when the UK cut buying it from the MOD budget they decided to also keep Fairey from exporting or license producing in the US. Even though the US Army wanted… Read more »
Good God how can a man as self-hating as your self not have just put yourself out of your own misery. Reducing tanks again and reducing aircraft again withdrawing constant Nuclear deterrent. You seem to be to cowardly to do yourself in so you want Mr. Putin or Joe Jihadi to do the whole country in for you so you don’t have to be lonely when you die.
The only cut backs should be to the DFIA budget, reduced to zero and pump that £13 billion into (in equal share) NHS, Social care, Education, Defence) that would yield an extra £13 billion a year. Then cut / stop pensions escalator why should pensioners get above inflation pay rises when the workers and tax payers in the UK are suffering from wage stagnation? Then take a surgical knife to all public services to get rid of the tens of thousands of non jobs in the NHS, Defence, Education, Social services etc. Then take a sledge hammer to social security… Read more »
Agree with much of this. I think it would need a revolution to carry it out though.
Even a small cut in foreign aid (giving £billions of Britain’s hard earned money every single year to foreign countries) would suffice.
With regards type 31 build. Taking a 3-4 year time period between construction starting and in service date means the first batch of 5 type 31es needs to start building no later than 1st january 2019. The first batch needs to be built at a drum beat of one a year to replace the first 5 type 23s leaving service. Not sure the lethargic build programme for the much delayed type 26 is going to help the RN much in this matter. The key issue is,that the type 31 has to be as capable as the type 23s leaving service,… Read more »
The Hadrian Yards at Wallsend look busy.
Nowhere near as busy as it could potentially have been. Various orders for British projects have went overseas (oil rigs and windfarms). Half the work for what you can see now is done in Belgium also then shipped over.
They deliberately give British projects (oil rigs, wind farms, railways, navy, etc.) to foreign companies as part of their organized war being waged against British heavy industry which has been going on for decades, and is still being waged to this day. No other European country is waging war against its heavy industries, we do not want this either.
A&P is perfect for being in the UK consortia for building the Fleet Solid Support ships too.
6 RFA? We have 4 new Tankers 2 Wave boats 3 Bay boats Fort Vic Fort Austin and Fort Rosie and Argus. We literally went through a review last year which stated that not only was the RFA cost effective in comparison to the other options but that no merchant company could produce the operational output that is required for the RN by the RFA. Most of RFA tasking is what used to be RN and they couldnt do that without the special position RFA’s take up in the Naval Service. Wherever you pulled your info from it is incorrect.
It is not efficient or competitive to have only tiny shipyards, each incapable of building a larger ship by itself, hundreds of miles apart. This has been done deliberately as part of the organized war against British heavy industry which has been going on for decades, and is still going on to this day. In spite of their lies, they want to keep British shipbuilding tiny and un-competitive. This is not the way forward. We have to either enlarge an existing shipyard or build a new one, a large one capable of building large ships on 1 site, preferably an… Read more »