The Ministry of Defence has again declined to provide clarity on the future of the Royal Navy’s Type 32 frigate programme, saying all platform decisions will be taken as part of the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
In a written parliamentary answer to Liberal Democrat MP James MacCleary, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said: “All platform choice decisions will be made as part of the Defence Investment Plan.”
The response offers little indication of progress on the Type 32 programme, which was announced in 2020 under the National Shipbuilding Strategy as a future class intended to follow the Type 26 and Type 31 frigates. The programme has remained in its concept phase, with no published timetable for design, procurement, or entry into service.
The MOD has previously used similar wording when questioned on Type 32 timelines. In an earlier answer, Pollard said the department was “continuously evaluating its capabilities” as part of plans for a “Hybrid Navy” combining crewed and uncrewed vessels, supported by modular and reconfigurable technologies intended to enable “faster, smarter procurement and scalable platforms.”
Despite repeated parliamentary questions, the MOD has continued to avoid confirming whether Type 32 will proceed as a conventional frigate build, a modular unmanned-enabled design, or a re-scoped programme aligned to emerging autonomous concepts. The latest response, again, suggests the project remains effectively paused while decisions await the Defence Investment Plan, which has yet to be published.
Would it make sense to scrap it and buy more T26s or T31s?
Fully expect that to happen, or for it to simply be quietly shelved. It’s a miracle it hasn’t been already. Though with the recent significant spend on infrastructure at Rosyth, perhaps it’s an early indicator of more orders for Babcock…. wishful thinking on my part most likely
Scrap what ?
The T32, I know its not being built but I assumed there would’ve been a budget put away for it.
It’s never had a budget, it was always listed as an aspiration. The last government had many aspirations across Whitehall, nothing funded. By the time Sunak was in charge ministers were just making policy on the fly with personal new releases.
However I do take heart that it’s in limbo and not just cancelled. It seems madness not to use a facility like Rosyth and a design like Arrowhead 140/120 for more ships.
T32 could replace the Batch 1 rivers and MCM vessels with an Arrowhead 140 optimised for drone operations and reduced crewing. Basically giving us an all frigate fleet moving forward.
With a hot production line at Rosyth and known design being built in quantity it’s probably cheaper to use Arrowhead 140/120 than come up with a new OPV and MCM design.
Fair enough, I based my comment on an assumption and should’ve done research. I thought the T32 was a vanity project from Boris tbh.
I’d juts love to see more frigates and destroyers.
My question was mainly sarcastic frustration, given that the sum total of Fuch All has so far been spent on It.
Essentially they should just plow in with T31s reconfiguring as needed..
Whilst I agree there should be a follow on order, I do wonder just what the painfull deliberations around the DIP delay will bring given the last 4 years of war In Ukraine.
With Starmer worried enough to dare to even mention a 3% DB, It makes me wonder if all of the SDR recomendations are really going to be Implemented ?
Let’s bloody well hope so.
The sensible option would to run in another batch of T31s of some configuration.
Keep building them and T26 too.
And keep recruiting.
Give Babcock an order NOW for three more 31’s and call it a day. The T32 is never going to happen.
Ben Wallace did state that he wanted to see the first T31 and how it turns out before ordering more.
I’d say 5 more and with 6 armed fast MRSS then you have a 30 combatant navy. Only I struggle to see the economics of fast + MRSS stacking up. And if it isn’t fast then it is the Sitting Duck class.
To me MRSS simply does not work as a six ship program unless the RN is doing away with large amphibious vessels.. which I cannot see.
Probably should go for 2 good sized amphibious/littoral control ships, large four spot flight deck, hanger and full stern well and 4 frigate sized and armed littoral raiding ships.. stern ramps, 2 spot flight deck and hanger, space for a company sized force.. self protection ( CAMM + guns) as well as some form of long range precision fires ( NSM)..
The phantom DIP strikes again, while comments about accelerating spending seem to make what is being worked on out of date even before it is published…..
Apparently, the Treasury are refusing to cough up any extra money. No extra money, no DIP.
Given what Starmer said the other day, I wonder if he and Reeves are about to fall out. There has been rumours of her going so that Starmer can dump his U Turns on her.