Babcock International Group has confirmed revised timescales for its first two Type 31 Inspiration Class frigates, announcing that HMS Venturer is now expected to float off in the first half of the 2025-26 financial year (FY26), with the second vessel, HMS Active, slated for the second half of FY26.

The first half of financial year 2026 is April 2025 to the end of September 2026 and the second half of financial year 2026 is 1 October 2025 until 31 March 2026.

The company stated:

“We are progressing the build of the first three ships in the Type 31 Inspiration Class frigate programme. We expect the float-off of the first ship, HMS Venturer, to be in the first half of FY26 and float-off of the second ship, HMS Active, in the second half of FY26.”

The update comes as part of Babcock’s latest trading statement, which reported a stronger outlook for the full year ending 31 March 2025, driven by “double-digit organic growth in Nuclear and strong growth in Marine.”

Chief Executive David Lockwood commented:

“Today’s announcement demonstrates that successful execution of our strategy is continuing to deliver value for all our stakeholders. Our engineering skills and know-how are in ever greater demand and with significant opportunities before us, I look forward to further profitable growth.”

Babcock originally targeted an earlier float-off date for HMS Venturer, but we understand that it now plans to keep the vessel inside the assembly hall longer to ensure build quality and take advantage of protected working conditions.

Together, HMS Venturer and HMS Active represent the first two of five Inspiration Class frigates under construction, conceived to bolster the Royal Navy’s future capabilities.

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George Allison
George Allison
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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73 COMMENTS

  1. For clarity this is still this calendar year. FY25/26 starts in April so before October would be the “first half”.
    Hopefully the extra time in the shed has been put to good use and we start to see a steady stream of these coming out.

  2. When does the Financial year start?

    Also side note which dry docks will outfitting be done in, can’t all be done pierside?

    • Depends if outfitting is mostly done in the shed.

      If it has been done and all that is needed is the mast then all is well and good.

      If it is in the water as a hulk then there are big problems.

        • You can plug the stern tubes and launch without shafts and propellers fitted but would then have to dry dock again to fit them, Given the shaft angle (sloping towards the stern) you would need to chock her high in the dry dock to be able to have the depth to fit the shafts and then the props afterwards, how they would align this is unknown but everything to me would point towards having the shaft lines and rudders installed before launch. T26 propellers are super sneaky ones so these will be installed in the shed, T31 are less so so no secrets given up if you have to fit them outside. If the launch date can is being kicked down the road then it’s most likely a critical component delay – which right now is not uncommon and almost beyond control.

          • BAe dock at Scotstoun get round the problem by having 2 pits in one of their Drydocks, one at the bow for the Sonar and one at the stern for the shafts and props. Looking at HMS Glasgow she was “launched” with the brackets and rudders fitted but not the shafts.
            To me that makes some sense as when the T45 were outfitted they had weighted paddles / drums fitted to the props, the dock flooded and full power tests of the propulsion carried out in situ, then the props fitted.
            I really would have loved to see that one carried out.

    • It says so in the article:

      “The update comes as part of Babcock’s latest trading statement, which reported a stronger outlook for the full year ending 31 March 2025”

      So April 1st. No fooling!

    • this is unacceptable. venturer wa said to be being launched before the summer.what has changed? is it that the third morning tea break in the morning has been stopped? the Clyde yards are a national embarrassment

      • As I recall, The Type 31 build plan was changed to keep it under cover longer, and do some of the work that was originally planned for after launch. So – It’ll be later into the water, but closer to completion when it does.

    • UK Fy26 starts April1st 2025. The info for the story is slightly confusing as it has been lifted from Babock’s end of year financials without the essential caveat that any dates listed are by std accounting practices so, they appear to be saying that HMS Venturer will be in the water between April and September this year. I am not an expert in shipbuilding but here goes: The ship is currently being painted in the build hall which tends to be done closer to roll out. AFAIK the rudders have been fitted, no idea about the shaftlines: they did the stern drop last spring so I would reckon they are either in or just about to go in). I assume that a lot of the internal fit-out is starting to happen or actually happening now, they’re just not talking about this as its, you know, a warship… The main Radar and rear comms masts (possibly the funnels too) need to be fitted outside as they look like they would be above the internal gantry crane height so possibly will be done on the hardstanding prior to float-off or if/when the ship gets moved to the dry dock for final fit out which is likely where weapons, radar, propellors etc. are also fitted .TBH everyone will be a lot happier to see a painted ship outside and in the water but a lot of posters are forgetting that the Babcock team in Rosyth are using the fact they have a very modern assembly hall and a heavily digital/robotised manufacturing hall to their advantage. I would gamble that Venturer will be out for first sea trials late next year,

  3. Depends on ‘why’.

    If ‘why’ is that all the whistles and bells are added then good.

    If ‘why’ is that we can’t build a ship due to skills/labour shortages not such good news.

    As many of us said the T31 timetable was fantasy given it was a first fresh build for a yard.

    • When the Type 31 programme was announced some of us on here did allude to exercising caution as to how the contract could be delivered and what would be delivered. As you say it was the first start to finish build for Babcock’s. No doubt some will still be pleading for more T31’s to be ordered, which is not a bad thing but let’s wait for Venturer to successfully complete Sea Trials first

    • Hi SB, Mmm I’ve actually given up trying to keep tabs on the launch or in service dates for this class. For a supposedly “modular design” which is based on a previously built ship (built outside next to the Baltic) it’s just baffling as to why they still portray this in a positive way.
      So I’m just going to ignore any Babcock announcements until we have the only single reliable indicator of an actual launch date.
      And I kind of think it will be late Spring / early Summer and that’s because NL reports that the “Malin Augusta CD01” barge has been moved to Rosyth which they will need to get her into the water. Now she could be there as she isn’t being used and the next scheduled “launch” is at Rosyth but shifting it from the West to East coast via the Pentland Firth isn’t something you just do without ££££’s at the end of it.

      In other words I’ll believe it’s happening when Babcock announce a firm definite date as that means they have put their money where its mouth is and leases it.

      So to all UKDJ folks (including our wonderful journalists) can anyone confirm if the barge is at Rosyth please ?

      On a more serious note I do wonder if this continual series of delays / resets will effect future orders for Babcock 🤔

      • “Now she could be there as she isn’t being used and the next scheduled “launch” is at Rosyth but shifting it from the West to East coast via the Pentland Firth isn’t something you just do without ££££’s at the end of it.”

        I agree.

        But it may be that the Malin barge is outfitted for the lift and so isn’t much use for anything else? And that the barge is contracted for the duration of T26 program so the T31 delays don’t actually increase costs?

        And that storing the barge at Rosyth is actually the most cost effective location for that.

        I agree that a tow that long won’t be free issue but what would Peel charge to store something like that – quite a lot I would think.

        Whereas Babkcock could say that they would store it FOC in their outer DD and as it is going to be for a good long time as that would take part of the sting out for MoD.

        All guesswork!

      • In the end what really matters is when ship one, two and three are operational… that’s all very opaque to be honest..because launching and handing over by 2028/29 all sound lovely..but when you realise how much time trials will take..

    • Yes, but better an attempt at a positive timescale and falling shy than attempt at a longer timescale…. and still falling shy.

      • It was a massive undertaking for Babcock’s, it should have been more realistic from the start, it might have even induced a bit of panic in the MOD resulting in a couple of more Type 26.

        • They cut two Type 26s to pay for the Type 31s. Remember that at the rate the Treasury would originally let them buy Type 26s, the extra two ships wouldn’t have come operational until the 2040s. Not an appealing prospect in 2017 to wait quarter of a century. No wonder they went for the T31s.

          • @Dern: as I recall, the Navy was told in 2015 that 13 T26s were unaffordable and they could only have 10. The Navy demurred due to lack of hulls and 8 was agreed with 5 second tier GP instead and that’s what made it into the 2015 review. You are right that 10 was never an officially agreed number.

          • “@Dern
            As I recall, the Navy was told in 2015 that 13 T26s were unaffordable and they could only have 10.”

            Not entirely correct Jon. The MoD reduced the order for T26 frigates in 2015 SDR, from full 1 to 1 replacement at the time for 13 T23 frigates, because of un- affordability. Then to be replaced by 8 T26, and 5 cheaper new type T31 frigates.

        • @Dern

          The cut has been gradual the frigate fleet should be 20 strong.. the Blair government cut it in the mid 2000s to 17 to help pay for the war on terror, Cameron then cut it to 13 in 2010 as part of austerity…. In reality these should never have been permanent as both times they cut ships that needed expensive refit and there should have been a program funded for 10 ASW and 10 GP frigates.

          • Blair/Brown cut was the three T23 sold off.

            The Cameron/Osbourne cut was the T22B3.

            The first was lunacy as they would have spread the wear and tear.

            The T22B3 is more nuanced. They were essential for ELINT and until T45 got that capability that was effectively gapped. However, T22 was massively expensive to run but a good heavily armed well built frigate.

          • @Jonathan;

            That’s not what was being debated. The Change from 13 Type 26’s to 8 Type 26’s and 5 Type 31’s did not result in any loss of hull numbers being ordered. Getting the Type 31’s did not result in fewer hulls.

  4. George

    Headline is misleading. 1st half of FY26 means before 30th September 2025, so is consistent with prior statements made of “spring 2025” for HMS Venturer.

    HMS Active between October 2925 and March 2026…probably nearer the latter

  5. I understood the barge to be used to lower Venturer into the water had now arrived at Rosyth, with roll-out and launch due in the near future?

  8. Looking at babcocks finical end of year reports and financial statements their end of year is 31st March…

    So first half of 25/26 financial year would mean some time between 1st April and 1st Oct 25..so essentially it’s moved from a spring to a summer/autumn launch.

    But what really matters more than anything is when each ship becomes operational and that is a very shaky date that seems to be all over the place. But if we say 2 years for fitting out then two years worth of first in class trials we get to a mid 2029 date for Venture, interestingly if active is floated out just one year behind venture then due to reduced trials time they may very likely end up operational in the same year as the second and subsequent ships will probably only require around a year for trials.

    Also it does mean that there will be a wee delay in formidable being laid down, so let’s say formidable gets laid down in Oct 2025 launched in Oct 2028, Buldog in Oct 2026 launched in Oct 29 and Campbeltown laid down in Oct 2028 and launched in 2031.

    it also means that in Oct 2029 there will be a spare slip in the Babcock frigate factory.. so your usually looking at 1-2 years form order to first steel cutting then say 6 months from first steel cutting to being laid down.. so for continuity of work any batch 2 T31 or T32 order needs to be firm by 26/27.

    From all that we can sort of develop a timescale of when the RN gets operational ships:

    2029/30 2 T31
    2030/31 1 T31
    2031/32 1 T31
    2032/33 0 T31
    2033/34 1 T31

    Which is a bit disconcerting because if the collapse of the T23 fleet continues the very last one will probably leave service in 31 and by 29/30 there will probably only be 3 left.. 4 left in 2028/29, 5 left in 2027/28

    Even worse it’s very likely that the first type 26 will not be operational until 2029 and the second in 2029/30 third in 2031, fourth in 2033 fifth 2034

    All in all it’s a very real possibility that the RN frigate fleet may go as low as 4-6 frigates 2028-31 and it will be 2034 before it gets to even 9 frigates. What is even worse is we are looking down the barrel of not just a peer war in Europe, but at the same time major conflict in the Middle East and a Sino NATO war in the pacific all at the time the RN could be down to 10-12 major surface combatants.

    Cameron and Osbourne really were catastrophic in regards to the frigate fleet, when they did not recognise that 2010 was literally the crunch point at which a frigate had to be ordered..or how the geopolitical winds were blowing from 2010/11.

    • Time to get a little positive on timescales. Glasgow should be delivered next year and I don’t see any reason for it not to be operational in 2028, unless you know something about superglue and rivets that I don’t. I also imagine that we’ll see Cardiff operational in early 2029.

      It’s hard to speculate on the Type 31s as we have no real idea what has already been done on the fit out to date and whether that will form a template for future builds.

      • Hi John Glasgow is being commissioned it 2027 at current plans.. but let’s look at reality, first in class trials will be 2 years so even if it starts it’s trials now it would not not be commissioned for two years…so as they are now planning to start first in class sea trials in early 2026…so very late late 2027 early 28 is more likely for commissioning, then there will be around a year of post commissioning first in class trials before being declared operational, so 2029 is actually optimistic..and first deployment will come well after that…take the last first in class major surface combatant as a timeline so Daring..trials started 2007..commissioned 2009..post commissioning first in class trials then operational 2010..first deployment 2012.

        • I’m not so sure about the 2 years for 1st of class being completely necessary. The propulsion system is all well tried and used components and the decision to de risk the gearbox by building a test rig was prudent (just look at T45, LCS@ and German Corvettes).
          I just don’t see it being quite as long winded as 2 years, it’s not a Ford class Carrier. 🤔
          The caveat is of course they don’t get a massive defect list like the B2 Rivers (which the new RN regime from Bath was brought in to stop a repeat).
          🤞🏻

          • I’m always a believer in looking at what has gone before… as a rule of thumb if it took you 2 year last time your best to assume 2 years again..and that’s what it took for the T45..may you could get T26 quicker, but first in class trials are first in class trials and the post commissioning first in class also need to Be done..but to Be honest even shaving 6 months off is doing sweet FA for the RN major surface combatant fleet..simply put HMG messed up hugely when it did not start ordering frigates in the 2006- 2011 timeframe…and nothing BAE or Babcock can do either by being a bit more efficient or a bit slower and inefficient will change that massive political error.

      • I believe we’ll see an early commissioning, and unless there are significant faults found an early declaration of IOC as well. The optics of only having a handful of decaying T23s will force the Navy’s hand, with politicians counting ships in commission when they say we have X warships. I may be wrong. We’ll just have to wait and see.

    • It is just a fudge around using different time markers from calendar year to FY – proper low level obfuscation.

      Earnings are FY related so they are dying to markets they will be booked then.

    • I think the finger of blame really needs to be pointed at the previous Bron government and the RN itself. The RN pushed and lobbied for the carriers and the Brown government went along with them. Problem is that the naval equipment budget is completely inadequate to support a 60-ship.fleet. The budget is for equipment and equipment SUPPORT and the latter, which includes upgrades and LIFEX and PIP and contracting out and so on, which gobbles up about 70% of the budget.

      I reckon that leaves £700-£800 m per year to cover all new building of the surface fleet. You can’t get one T26 for that money, let alone T31, new MCMVs, Proteus, FSSS and MRSS.

      If you take out £7bn to pay for the.carriers. as we did, it left nothing in the kitty for anything else, which is why we haven’t commissioned one new escort for 10 years now, rather than a steady drumbeat of.one per year or, more realistically, one per 18-24 months.

      I’ve posed the question before – what did the RN think would happen if they splashed 10 years worth of the equipment budget on 2 carriers at the cost of everything else? Hardly surprisng that the T23s are struggling on miles beyond their OSD, that T26 and T31 are on a slow-build schedule, FSSS is going to be years behind its original.ISD etc. There is simply not enough money in the budget to build new ships in a timely way – and that is compounded by the decision to acquire the carriers.

      Haven’t had any answer here as to what the RN thought would happen when they splashed the budget on the carriers. Did they think that HMG would just produce more dosh for the navy? Or that their budget would be prioritised over the other services (a standard RN theme)? Our naval lobby tends to duck the question, blame HMG and continue to press for additional ships like the mythical T32 FF. It is easy enough to.dodge around the issue by saying we should spend 3% of GDP on defence and equally easy to see why that is not a viable option in light of increasingly strapped public expenditure position.

      The bottom line is that, on barely 2% of GDP, we cannot as a nation afford mega-expensive, prestige indulgences like SSBN and carriers, without completely degrading our conventional forces. The result is a serious diminution of our airpower, the reduction of the army to a pretty token, poorly-equipped force and an ever-shrinking fleet.

      • Well the top was ripped off the whole thing by extending T boats, SSBN, T23 & PiP.

        If you put that money back in it just about adds up.

    • A semi-confident prediction from across the Pond: NATO defence/defense expenditure goal will be revised, potentially by conclusion of 2025 NATO Summit. The goal will also have an expedited schedule for implementation. Best SWAG: (3-4% of GDP by 2028). This goal will arise principally as a result of negotiations between ENATO and current POTUS. Apparently amazing goals in terms of equipment quantities and schedules of production will be feasible when adequate funding is available.

  9. Well you never know, by the mid 21st light weight cats and traps may be a thing for all new major surface combatants, stranger things happen at sea🤣😂

  13. I’m sure that nice MR Putin, Xi etc will wait until we’re ready before starting WW3. Meanwhile the USA looks like it could turn into a very unreliable ally.

  15. Totally intentional delays to keep yards viable with work & to make sure all the low skill sub- contractors can actually provide all the bells & whistles imo. I hope I am wrong ..When was the last time we built a new surface combatant that DID NOT have some kind of mechanical or electrical or engineering problem ..Yet we somehow manage to build top notch subs..Even though the captains had a few mishaps !

  17. A second batch of T31s should be ordered now to get the benefit of economies of scale with a hot production and supply chain. Ultimately for a 2:1 HILO mix, and to grow critical mass, 18 units should be goal. There will those, il-informed and/or ignorant, who will question the numbers; Having an active and expanding ship building base will be crucial in any future conflict, where the UK will be forced to relearn it is surrounded and dependent on the seas.

    With new units coming into service as major refits of earlier units are due, new capabilities at lower costs will be possible in refitted and new units as they are built (think back to the T12s). It would be expected in the medium term, while the RN regenerates (personnel wise), some units may be reduced to reserve, while awaiting either major refit and/ or selling to friendly nations, which is all part of the old processes which worked for the UK in ensuring the RN has the navy it needs when it needs it.

    Of course nothing the UK MoD is logical, so they will miss the boat (sic).

    • Totally agree. T31 is the RN gunboat for the 21st C. It is affordable and should be deployed globally in numbers. Persistent presence is the essential step in influence, security and deterrence – defence engagement. Plus the Arrowhead hull has oodles of upgrade potential.

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