BAE Systems has revealed two potential designs for the UK’s General Purpose Frigate programme, known as the Type 31 Frigate.

Plans to acquire a new class of “more affordable” general purpose vessels at the expense of five Type 26 frigates were announced last year as part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

It is understood that the Type 26 Frigate will primarily support carrier task group operations while the Type 31 is to be deployed for a range of less high-tempo operations.

The original planning assumption for the Royal Navy was for thirteen Type 26 Frigates (eight ASW and five GP), replacing the Type 23 frigate fleet like-for-like.

However, it was later announced during the November 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review by then Prime minister David Cameron that only the eight anti-submarine warfare Type 26 frigates would be ordered.

The funding for the remaining five general purpose Type 26 frigates is instead to be spent on developing a new class of lighter and more affordable general purpose frigates.

The two designs are pictured below.

cutlass The Cutlass design, pictured above, is a significantly stretched and enhanced derivation of the Al Shamikh-class corvette design and sits at the high end of the cost/capability spectrum.

In Omani service, the vessels this design is based on carry one 76mm Oto Melara cannon, two 30mm MSI DS30M 30mm cannons, eight MM-40 Block III Exocet SSMs and twelve MBDA VL Mica SAMs.

avengerThe Avenger design is a modified Amazonas-class/River-class Batch 2 offshore patrol vessel, similar to the currently in-build OPVs on the Clyde and has been offered to fit the low end of any potential cost and capability options.

Due to an expected lower cost, the government suggested it may allow an eventual increase in the total number of frigates in the Royal Navy. This general purpose frigate will be designated as the Type 31 frigate.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Peter Vine
7 years ago

Yeah just as we expected, they’re using a stretched version of Omani corvette design which is in itself a stretched River class OFV.

Looks the business if I’m honest!

Matthew Gosling
7 years ago
Reply to  Peter Vine

Thats all we need these days isn’t it. More anti piracy. Cant afford big tonnage.

Peter Vine
7 years ago
Reply to  Peter Vine

Perhaps. Needs to be able to pack a punch though. The Russians have shown the way with their corvettes and mini-frigates in their Caspian Flottila.

Future big engagements will be multinational ones anyway even if we had 20± type 26s and built another ten type 45s. Its what each partner can bring to the table..

Jake
Jake
7 years ago
Reply to  Peter Vine

You do forget that modern day weapons make up for size and naval warfare has changed since. Also the Russias are out of date by far.

andy reeves
andy reeves
6 years ago
Reply to  Peter Vine

google the river class spec length, width with the german braunschwieg corvette, look at the armament fitted to a ship almost identical in size to a river. maybe the t31 may be used from a river test bed

colin
colin
7 years ago

Peter : i was just going to say the same they are no more than River Class . Perhaps we should have switched the Support Vessels from South Korea to Uk and get South Korea to build the Royal Navy’s new complex warships. UK Government remains committed to utilising the strengths of UK industry in this specialist and complex area. Hardly think they are complex warships bit of copy and paste by BAE Sytems again. These are no more than customs boats

Darren Riche-Webber
Darren Riche-Webber
7 years ago
Reply to  colin

The best and fair case is for all these ships to be built in the UK, but I know what you mean. May be they should be designed abroad and all expensive electrical systems purchased from abroad too. If we don’t build them here, why design them here either. Let run the whole industry down and rely on house prices going up and up.

Beno
Beno
7 years ago

I prefer the BMT Venator ground up design. Although its probably more expencive.

Cutlass looks ok. No room for strike length VLS tho i notice.

Lets hope they get their skates on.

And for this level of capability i would like 8.

Problem if small ships cost more to run per tonne so 5 it will be the RN cant take the increase in man power for more.

Simon Gurden
7 years ago

Looks great! Build it quick

andy reeves
andy reeves
6 years ago
Reply to  Simon Gurden

one issue, the companies (venator, stellar systems, submitting designs for a t31 won’t disclose cost, build time or anything to show they affordable, suitable or priced in the areas that matter affordability, capabilitiese.t.c

Simon Gurden
7 years ago

And more than 5!

Alex Williams
7 years ago
Reply to  Simon Gurden

…and if they’re going to be smaller, won’t they need to be faster?

Simon Gurden
7 years ago
Reply to  Simon Gurden

Yes!

Andrew Finn
7 years ago
Reply to  Simon Gurden

They should splash the cash on at least ten of them, in addition to the eight T26s. #RebuildTheNavy

Simon Gurden
7 years ago
Reply to  Simon Gurden

I would agree with that

Peter Vine
7 years ago
Reply to  Simon Gurden

If they’re based on an existing design like the above two then it would be easier to buy a few more later down the line.

Robert Abernethy
7 years ago

Any word on the weapons fit for these?

Ian Murray
7 years ago

The article states what the omanis use

Jonathan Harmer
7 years ago

Looks like a Mk45 on the bow.

Robert Abernethy
7 years ago

Looks to be a pair of VLSs behind the main gun. Am I right in thinking there would probably be a pair of quad Harpoon launchers further aft?Also, are those VLSs strike-length or just anti-air?

andy reeves
andy reeves
6 years ago

just a fantasy design a kid could draw

Robert Abernethy
7 years ago

Thank you, but I’m more interested in the missiles.

Connor
Connor
7 years ago

Sea Ceptor

UK Defence Journal
7 years ago

Apologies on the earlier comment by another admin, T31 will not have a five inch gun. We will be releasing an article of an estimated weapons fit soon.

Nicholas Roach
7 years ago

For every Bond Villain.

Rob Simmonds
7 years ago

Looks small…

Brian Antrobus
7 years ago

Hope the donkeys work when it’s hot!!

Ian Murray
7 years ago

The stretched Khareef class design looks much more promising than a stretched river class.

Paul Taunton
Paul Taunton
7 years ago

Looks like a real fighting ship!!!

Carry on BAE

grubbie
grubbie
7 years ago

Basically bodged up OPVs, at least they have a small hanger. Too much for police work, easy meat for any serious opposition, so the additional equipment will just end up at the bottom of the sea if anyone is silly enough to try and use it.

Will Endiniae
7 years ago

Erm not the type 26 then?

UK Defence Journal
7 years ago
Reply to  Will Endiniae

No, the Type 31 are taking the place of the five general purpose Type 26 vessels previously planned.

Matthew Donnelly
7 years ago

So a corvette we shall have…

The Honest Politician
7 years ago

Now hurry up and get the deals done and the building started, our forces deserve new and better kit and a decent pay rise to go with them,

Dave Crook
7 years ago

The Cutlass gets my vote, if fitted with Artisan Radar system, NSM of LRASM along with Sea Ceptor.
One question that dose arise would it be able to carry a Lynx Chopper permanently?

Robin Trewinnard-Boyle
Reply to  Dave Crook

Both designs look to have hangars as well as flight decks so I’d reckon yes. But it wouldn’t be a Lynx as they’ll be out of service by the time these ships are built. It’ll be a Wildcat.

Dave Crook
7 years ago
Reply to  Dave Crook

Robin Trewinnard-Boyle my mistake you are correct, and along with Chemrings Centurion
https://youtu.be/wjIBv_GD0H0

Ian Napthali
7 years ago
Reply to  Dave Crook

Depending what is proposed the streched Khareef should be able to embark Wildcat and launch/recover Merlin (original was designed to embark RAFO Super Lynx and land on NH90) The Amazonas derivative will need to be significantly different as the original didn’t have a hangar and the flight deck was sized for AW139 as operated by Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard.

Jason Bartlett
7 years ago

I’d rather they went with another company bae have a bad history of huge cost overuns in both design and building. The Venator-110 is I think a good ship and would suit the needs of the navy.

Gareth Dempsey
7 years ago
Reply to  Jason Bartlett

The problem being that BAE have had a stranglehold on our procurement for so long now that the MOD rarely look elsewhere and if they ever object to the poor return we get for our outlay then BAE threaten to move even more jobs from the UK to the US.

Thomas James Bevan
7 years ago
Reply to  Jason Bartlett

BAE have the monopoly unfortunately and the MoD will not have warships built outside of the U.K. So by proxy, it’s BAE…

Graeme Crash Kydd
7 years ago
Reply to  Jason Bartlett

Facts of history have shown that even the bae yards down south can’t complete a contract .

Swan hunters . Vospers even Barrow have all started contracts in the past that bae clyde had to bail them out of so not necessarily bae having the monopoly but bae clyde having the skills from design to completion to complete the contracts faster and better than anywhere else in the UK

Stephen Carey
Stephen Carey
7 years ago

I don’t remember Swans needing a bail out by the Clyde – any info on that?

Julian
Julian
7 years ago

Avenger looks horrible, Cutlass looks better but I still prefer Venator 110. I think strike-length VLS will push cost up too far, in fact BMT say that explicitly in the Venator 110 data sheet, but with good use of box launchers for stuff like NSM, Harpoon, LRASM etc that shouldn’t be a show stopper. Venator seems to have more topside space for stuff like that plus some configurable module space and from looking at some of the trade offs BMT mentions, e.g. no strike-length VLS and CODAD propulsion, I suspect they have their eye on affordability far more than BAE… Read more »

David F
David F
7 years ago

BAE still waste so much space (1/3rd) of the entire surface % for 1 helicopter . Why not build up the back end of the ship and drop the chopper down into its hanger with an aircraft hoist/ lift . The current hanger could then be used for further weps systems or even a 2nd chopper?

Skobok Skoby
7 years ago

Charming

Adrian
Adrian
7 years ago

What’s wrong with a real design like FREMM?

These are not real ships just expensive yachts.
Whatever happens, RN will not buy anything cheap.
The Type 23 was meant to be cheap and cheerful until they sat down and kept upping the spec.

BTW are these more than 60% designed lol

Al N. Alex
7 years ago

THIS ONE REALLY LOOKS NIT

Wayne Marland
7 years ago

Far from being an expert on boats… where is all the firepower hidden?

Colin Fairclough
7 years ago
Reply to  Wayne Marland

Apart from the main gun the missiles are in vertical launchers, not sure if they will have CIWS or not but the 30mm cannons on either side would be hard to see.

Paul Taunton
Paul Taunton
7 years ago

I’ve never understood why British ships don’t have a raised bow as seen with American & Russian vessels. I would have thought that from a design perspective, they were more capable of riding the waves in heavy swells.

Kris Lannon
7 years ago

thats a frigate? so small! looks like a river patrol boat

Jim
Jim
7 years ago

Just build 1 type (26) , and build plenty of em, any cock ups like duff engines, can be fixed in the second batch any big ticket radar or missiles can be left off till we can afford them. designing another ship is bonkers.

Jeremy Stockdale
7 years ago

I hate the design, it looks too much like a river class. Empty shell with not much weapons as usual. cheap rubbish only fit for export

Carlos Smith
7 years ago

Should a ship have loads of weapons? ?

Ka Pe
7 years ago

Converts quickly into a Private yacht, comes in any colour you like so long as its battleship grey! NICE……

Andrew Perrin
7 years ago

What a load of rubbish have our ship designers gone bonkers

Jacobus Thacker
7 years ago

Everyone who is saying its shit or too small etc. You dont need MASSIVE ships anymore. Gone are the days of cruisers and ships with 1000s of men. Something like this fitted with missile systems can do exactly the same job, infact they do a different job completely.

Simeon Hawkins
7 years ago

Real ships please!!!

Brenton Blandford
Brenton Blandford
7 years ago
Reply to  Simeon Hawkins

Yes agree with you Simon the RN must have real frigates, destroyers and as for cruisers both the Russians, USN and suspect PLAN have them as well. Why not have modified versions of the Tiger class cruisers with twin 6 inch guns forward and missiles aft which can be used either solo or part of a task force.

Graeme Crash Kydd
7 years ago

Facts are a full carrier fleet will be the main carrier a couple of type 45s then a few type 26 and on the outskirts type 31 plus subs and rfa ships do need for full armament on such a versatile ship in the modern navy when it’s surrounded by various other classes

lee
lee
7 years ago

As britain is known for good anti submarine warfare give it a captus-4 sonar, camm for protection, a cwis and a gun, use it for asw in the carrier fleet and free up the T-26 to do solo work.

colin
colin
7 years ago

Perhaps we should employ South Korea to build RN Ships they have just launched first PKX-B missile craft The 210-tonne platform has an overall length of 44 m, an overall beam of 7 m, and can accommodate a crew of 20. The vessel has been designed by HHIC under a contract awarded by South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) but it is unclear if the shipbuilder will construct all 16 hulls. The PKX-B is powered by General Electric’s 6,000 shp LM 500 gas-turbine engines and Caterpillar Marine’s Cat C32 diesel engines in a combined diesel and gas turbine (CODAG)… Read more »

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[…] In July 2016, BAE revealed two general purpose frigate designs to meet the requirement; the Avenger-class and the Cutlass-class, we discussed them here. […]

john
john
7 years ago

How about 10 Cutlass or Venator 110 for T31 and for the 2 additional River Class OPV’s replace with the Avenger. Pity they could extend the batch 2 River class to Avenger standard, so total of 8 T26, 10 T31, 5 Avenger and keep the current batch 1 River Class OPV,

Donald Humphrey
7 years ago

???

Rod Grant
Rod Grant
7 years ago

I can totally see the concept behind the T31 and I believe it makes a great deal of sense. However an inability to defend itself (other than passively) against an ASW threat does seem a little flawed. This could be resolved with minimal outgoings with a purchase (or upgrade) of the dipping sonar fitted Wildcat. The development has been done for the South Koreans and the skill sets are all there in the Merlin force.

Pacman27
Pacman27
7 years ago

This is farcical now – these just don’t cut the mustard I am afraid.

The Royal Navy may as well take up fishing for all the use these are.

Either buy more T26 so the price comes down or build something like an Iver Huitfeldt. but not these. Total waste of money.

Pacman27
Pacman27
7 years ago

We should be committing to building a frigate every year indefinitely with a view to an operational fleet of 30 – 10 in Air Defence, 10 in ASW and 10 GP. Price should be fixed at £500m each across the fleet. This can be done – other nations do it (incl.Denmark with 3 Iver Huitfeldts) The hull for the Type 26 should be circa £150m so there is plenty left over for fit out. If BAE cannot do this have the full built in S.Korea and shipped over for fit out. Hull – £150m Wildcat – £30m Otto 127mm –… Read more »

grubbie
grubbie
7 years ago
Reply to  Pacman27

New (reconditioned) 5 inch guns just ordered cost twice that. The other thing people seem to forget is the lack of sailors, we only have 6type 45s and one of those is sitting permanently by the dock.

Max Baker
7 years ago

How long will it roughly take to build when they actually start

john
john
7 years ago

With Russia and China showing more an aggressive stance globally I can see an increase in ship numbers. Requirements will require more than additional River OPV’s. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a batch 2 T45’s, an increase in numbers of T26’s and T31’s like after the Falklands war.

HB
HB
7 years ago

Don’t commit to CLYDE building until Scots situation clearer…hold a 2nd referendum or,better, kick it into the long grass (a decade at least). Then push for a commitment to a building plan and stick to it. Cutlass looks realistic – not unlike the French La Fayette and its successors.

Curt
Curt
7 years ago

The Cutlass Class looks suitable. Cutting the land attack cruise missile capability seems a bit absurd though, it was a fundamental part of the plan wasn’t it? A helicopter launched version of the storm shadow ought to be a cost effective solution. Only magazines and servicing areas needed. Should make for mission flexibility.

Paul
Paul
7 years ago

We need deep water highly capable multirole vessels, not oversized gun boats!!!

Adam Telford
Adam Telford
7 years ago

I think it’s ridiculous, we are supposed to be a leading power in the world and we haven’t got a proper navy we can afford to build so don’t know why the government won’t spend. We are relying on the usa and france to help us it’s not right when the Russians are doing around our coast.

Merchantman
7 years ago

In building property it is madness to have design-build. Works out as a bum deal allowing maximum profit to the Builder.
Bring back the DNC and a Royal Navy design bureau.

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[…] BAE unveils potential designs for the Type 31 Frigate (UK Defence Journal) […]