The UK Government has suggested that Scottish shipyards could soon secure further Royal Navy work, as it continues its naval shipbuilding programme at Rosyth and Govan.
The remarks come as the Scottish Government faces criticism for awarding CalMac ferry contracts to Poland, bypassing struggling domestic yards.
Speaking in the House of Commons, John Lamont MP (Con, Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) questioned Maria Eagle, Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, about how many warships the UK Government is building in Scotland.
Eagle responded: “As the hon. Gentleman will probably know, Type 31s are being built at Rosyth and Type 26s are being built at Govan. We have got a programme for eight at Govan, and five so far at Rosyth—that is the current number.”
The phrase “so far” stands out, raising the possibility that additional orders could be forthcoming.
Rosyth currently produces the five-ship Type 31 frigate programme, while Govan builds the eight-ship Type 26 programme. However, ongoing naval expansion and potential international exports suggest that both yards could see additional contracts in the near future.
One possible avenue is further Type 31 orders—or a replacement project for the now rarely mentioned Type 32, initially envisioned as a follow-on frigate programme. Another is the Multi-Role Strike Ship (MRSS) programme, previously known as the Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS), which could provide a future project for Rosyth after Type 31 production ends.
While the Type 32 programme has largely disappeared from official mention, the Multi-Role Strike Ship (MRSS) project is still in the works—potentially merging some of the original Type 32 objectives.
During a visit to Rosyth last year, I spoke with David Lockwood, CEO of Babcock, about the progress of the Type 31 programme and the future of the yard. Lockwood expressed confidence that Rosyth would play a key role in future Royal Navy shipbuilding, stating:
“Obviously we’re waiting in the UK for the outcome of the SDR, but this is a world-class shipyard, we’ll have a role to play.”
Rosyth’s “frigate factory” model has already proven it can deliver modern warships, a key factor if MRSS—or a revived Type 32 concept—is to be built or part built there.
Lockwood also hinted at international opportunities, saying:
“There are export orders that we are working on, such as Sweden. There are other export orders for the Type 31. So there’s a whole range of things that this yard can be doing after this batch.”
With the Strategic Defence Review ongoing, the potential for additional Type 31s, MRSS construction at Rosyth, and even a revival of the Type 32 concept could mean a long-term boost for Scottish shipbuilding. Eagle’s remarks and Lockwood’s confidence suggest that more work for Scottish yards is not just possible—but increasingly likely.
When T31 was initially announced, It often had the words “At Least 5” at the beginning. These words were quietly dropped some years later. T83 has to be built somewhere so It’s a fair bet Scotland will build them. T32 is still a non entity even after BJ first uttered it.
I expect BAE will be the builder of the high-end/ most-expensive vessels; ie T26 and T83. Which leaving Babcock covering T31 and MRSS.
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Drone ships will be the future of every navy. I believe the type 32 should fill this role. No point waiting 10-20 years to start building these things.
Drone ships are nowhere close to being usesble
2 to 3 extra type 31 as now planned to be fitted out but with bow sonar would be a great manned addition.
I fear all this hope for the SDR will end in disappointment. I really hope I am wrong, but I cannot see the defence budget uplift filling the existing equipment plan deficit, while also increasing capability across the armed forces. Any improvements will be modest.
The deficit is £16.9billion and the uplift already announced is £6 billion per annum over and above inflation based increases.
So why don’t you think you can cover £16.9 billion with £6 billion a year?
It’s not good whichever way you look at it, but the deficit is over the entirety of the equipment programme, which I think is 10-years.
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That 16.9 billion is a projected 10 year deficit out to 2033 that includes inflation over a decade.. the projected spend in just 2027 will be around 70 billion..which is 70 billion from the around 53 billion in 2023/24 Thats around 16 billion more…yes inflation takes a chunk but that same inflation is what creates the 16.9 billion.. so even after inflation if it’s an extra 6 billion.. up until 2033 that’s an extra 36 billion pounds..because the uplift to 2.5% is paid out every year..if you spread the 16.9 billion over its 10 year life it’s about 1.7 billion a year….and that black whole was measured in 2022/23 when the defence spending was 2.3% and the 16.9 billion black hole was modelled on that level of expenditure over the next decade.
I think you are right.
The defence uplift is not really very large, I make it around £2,4 bn this year and £5.5bn pa for the following two years. That totals £13.4bn, which is a good bit less than the £17bn black hole in the procurement budget.
No doubt the military aid, somewhere close to £1 bn, will come out of that, whether there is a ceasefire or cessation
While that money comes from the Treasury contingency, it has been lumped in with defence spending so far, to make the defence budget look bigger.
The RN will get some ships, as it always manages to get first dibs on the money. They have the budget for the frigates and FSSS, but I don’t think for the second Proteus or the MRSS or Stirling Castle MCMVs beyond the first 3 or 4. No doubt they will get some of that wishlist, plus this new rotary ‘drone’ and UUVs.
Can’t see the RAF getting much. Would love to see the Wedgetails increased to 5, but wouldn’t bet on it.
Ditto the army. We will likely get some drones to cover the gap left by pulling the 47 Watchkeepers out of service and one would hope some more Sky Sabres. I don’t know if this land mobility programme is wholly, partly or not at all funded, would think there will be some announcement about that in the SDR.
But no money for another batch of Typhoons, T32 (I hope not) or more tracked armoured vehicles or anything that grows the equipment numbers. Would love to be wrong. We need to get to 3% of GDP urgently, but alas the Treasury coffers are about bare for the forseeable future.
The Times already shared some leaked details from the SDR. The extra Wedgetails aren’t happening and the additional batch of 6 x A400M to replace those 14 C130s already retired is being officially cancelled. Both are disappointing news.
It’s looking like the SDR will be ‘austere’. The service chiefs have been instructed not to comment. Maybe the Germans will loan us some A400s; they have loads. I think the SDR might be distorted by the govt industrial strategy. Programs which create UK jobs will be favoured.
I think so too, they’ll use the funds for dual use like launchers/satellites and also favour UK products like Martlet, SPEAR and CAMM. Plus improving forces housing. But neither of those projects were a king’s ransom and both had significant UK content (especially in E7;case, given the radars are already purchased, just the integration in Birmingham with some sourced 737s)
US off-shore companys’ not paying Corporation Tax to the Treasurey, is having an impact on tax revenues?
Over a decade 2023 to 2033 the capital black hole..including 10 years worth of inflation was estimated to hit 16.9 billion by 2033..but that modelling was done on 2.3% spend over 10 years… the fact is in 2025/26 the budget has hit 2.32% and by 2027 will be 2.5% or 70 billion..that’s 16-17 billion per year over the baseline 2023/24 2.3% budge.. so that 16.9 billion black hole by 2033 really is not that significant when you consider that 16.9 billion included inflation and with inflation the MODs budget will have an extra 16-17 billion per year between 2027 and 2033…even after inflation that’s around 6 billion a year extra.. or 36 billion extra….so in effect after inflation Between now and 2033 the MOD will have an extra 20 billion + in capital funding after even a worst case black hole…that’s a shit ton of money.
26 typhoons 2.6 billion
17 f35 1.9 billion
5 T31s 2.5 billion
70 more challenge 3s .35 billion
1000 reasonable APC 1 billion
That’s a list that only spends half the capital..
It seems no more C3s can be had, the remaining C2 fleet is in poor nick and not worth upgrading, best to break them for spares. If we need more tanks, there’s an Ajax derivative. Whilst I love more Typhoons, based on recent German and Italian deals the unit price was £140m (Germany) and £232m (Italy) so your £100m/unit might have to double.
I’d go for 3 extra T31’s instead of T32, with Rosyth the lead yard on MRSS after this.
With plenty of life left in the T45 hulls and (hopefully) a deal with Norway I’d proceed with T83 slowly but order 2 extra T26 to take frigate numbers back to the Future Surface Combatant C1/C3 numbers (albeit not sharing the same hull).
The timescale for first in class T83 is predicted to be beyond current T45 service thus giving the same issues as we see now with T23/26/31.
Building an extra 2 T26’s before T83 might just be a bad Idea. Having said that though, we really do need more ships and we need them sooner rather than later.
It’s the sooner bit that’s the problem. How much could T31 assembly at Rosyth be expanded if blocks were made at other shipyards like Ferguson or the Navantia yards in GB?
It could add to the cost and RN might struggle to build 8 T31 crews and 3 T26 crews, all by 2030.
A second T31; batch should be built at a slower pace than the current ones, so that the yard builds to a drumbeat and cost per unit is reduced.
Makes sense. It will be interesting to see whether the govt will integrate Appledore and Ferguson into the shipbuilding plan. MCM or OPV replacements, frigate blocks?
Some Blocks for Type 31 are already being built in another Shipyard,,the fact that it is in Poland is neither here nor there.
Any batch 2 T31s really need a TAS/VDS fitted as standard, raft mounted machinery. Otherwise, would rather have 1-2 more t26 than 3-4 t31s
You’d be lucky to get 1 T26
‘Rosyth’s “frigate factory” model has already proven it can deliver modern warships’
Has it? I think it stands a very good chance, but saying it has proved itself is not true… not yet. It constantly misses deadlines.
Err – it hasn’t delivered anytime yet. 🤔.
anything ffs.
Yes you are correct 👍.
Why no mention of more work being passed onto H&W after the completion of the Fsss now they have been taken over and have the backing of Navantia UK. The government has said its wants a 3rd operator because Babcock and Bae have the run of gray funnel builds ?
Why ? Probably because H&W is in Belfast not Scotland. The article is about Scotland.
Another thought – if Warship orders dried up then surely Rosyth would be pretty well equipped to build Ferries.?.
The T32 was already a mother ship for UUV, USV and UAVs and the Arrowhead -based T32 was touted as a possible replacement for the Absalon class for Denmark, with rear and side ramp, 2 Merlin’s and landing craft too. The renaming of MRSS from Support to Strike suggests something more towards the Fearless concept with heavier weapons fit, making it possible that this could end up merging with the T32 for a build of more units. If it were 11 (6 MRSS and 5 T32 combined) then a build interval of 15mths could see us reach the continuous build of the Shipbuilding Strategy, selling ships as they reach 20yo to avoid costly midlife refits.
You need to increase T31 numbers as we need GP frigates now!!!!!
The RN always needed 20 frigates after the planned builds it will have 13 so it’s 7 shy.
Build a second batch of 3 T31s to give 15 frigates.. then build the 6 MRSS as essentially a large ( 15,000 ton ) strike frigate, come autonomous systems mother ship..with the sensors and armament of a patrol/GP frigate ( CAMM, 57mm and 40mm guns, NSM for precision strike) well deck or ramp and 2 spot flight deck, with hanger for side by side Merlin’s and some drones.
At the same time have BAE build 3 13,000 -14,000 ton all singing all dancing very high end AAW destroyers. From around 2033.. run the type 45s concurrently into the mid/late 2040s and as soon as the T83s are build in the late 2030s have BAE start on 6-8 direct T45 replacements AAW destroyers or frigates in the 7000 ton range.
With this plan by the mid to late 2030s you have got the RN back to where it always should have been with 30 surface combatants and for the 2040s your Ai aiming for 32 large surface combatants..
8 GP frigates focused on surface warfare
8 ASW frigates
6 large strike frigates ( MRSS) aimed at littoral strike and patrol as an autonomous mother ship.
6-8 AAW destroyers ( first type 45 and in the mid 2040s a type 4x)
3 very high end carrier escorts, 13,000-14,000 AAW ships ( whatever you want to call them..the Italians are going for heavy destroyer it seams)
The RN also needs a home waters ( North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Irish Sea, Baltic and eastern Atlantic) patrol ship that can also act as a mother ship for autonomous systems.for infrastructure monitoring, local ASW and mine warfare. In the 3000 ton range..with basic self defence.. 57mm gun ( maybe some CAMM) with a flight deck, ramp or crane, mission space and work deck with space for 4 shipping containers.. to allow autonomous capability operations..this would replace the Mine warfare fleet and Rivers 1/2 fleets in the 2030s.. around 10 ships in total
More SSN’s are an absolute must. I would love to see the SSN numbers rise above todays numbers and perhaps SSNR would allow an additional few to be procured. I appreciate the need across the board but the SSN fleet is in such a shocking state it really needs to be addressed.