The Ministry of Defence says work is ongoing to scope the integration of the Mk41 vertical launch system on Royal Navy Type 31 frigates, declining to provide details on how the capability will be incorporated across the class while procurement discussions continue.
In written parliamentary answers to Liberal Democrat MP James MacCleary, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said the government intends to fit the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates with the American-designed Mk41 launch system but would not provide details on the planned timeline.
MacCleary had asked how many ships in the five-vessel class would have the system installed during construction and before launch, and how many would instead receive it during the later Capability Insertion Period.
Pollard answered, “We intend to fit the Type 31 frigate with the Mark 41 vertical launch system,” the minister said. “Working closely with the US Navy, we are progressing the next steps of the Mk41 procurement, including assessment of all installation and integration options.”
He added that further information could not be released while discussions and procurement work were ongoing.
“At this stage, as I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand, it would be inappropriate to provide any further information whilst this commercially sensitive work is ongoing,” Pollard said.
The Mk41 vertical launch system is widely used across NATO navies and can fire a range of missile types, including Tomahawk land-attack missiles, Standard air defence missiles and anti-submarine weapons depending on configuration.
The Type 31 frigates, known as the Inspiration class, are being built by Babcock at Rosyth in Scotland. Five ships are planned for the Royal Navy: HMS Venturer, Active, Formidable, Bulldog and Campbeltown. Although the design includes space for the Mk41 system, the vessels are expected to receive additional capabilities later through planned upgrade an capability insertion periods.
Confirmation of good news delivered in a nothing-burger.
If he’d been pushed further he’d have said wait for DIP.
What he announced is nothing more than a BW era announcement – 3.5yrs of inaction.
See I was waiting for some confirmation like this. If we haven’t ordered Mk41 now for them it may not be installed on the first 2 or first 3 ships for years to come. Could get pushed to a MLU
They are just the usual meaningless sentences assembled to produce a nothing release.
I don’t think anything can be read into that TBH.
There’s enough to read into that I can say we won’t see mk41 sets even delivered for 2 years at least.
Reread it carefully.
Why does it say working closely with USN? That is an odd statement as it would normally be with manufacturers.
Could it be that we are acquiring the VLS from the Cancellation Class frigates that USN had already bought?
I’d say that’s reading into desperation.
When the reality is they have the most expierience with the system, and they have plenty of other hulls that need Mk41
Question, will there be quad CAMM from just the mk41s or ExLS or from CAMM farm as on T26, or a mix of the first two or mk41s and CAMM farm? Launching classic CAMM from a mk41s is a bit wasteful height wise but a CAMM-MR/ER mix would be useful.
With the CIP upgrade will this lead to a stronger radar upgrade?
If these ships are going to be potentially operating in Red Sea- Persian Gulf areas will they look at giving them a hull sonar fix? Something that could be upgraded on the T45s too.
The “CIP” is not installing Mk41, or a better radar, or anything else significant, it is just a post sea trials repair and refit session.
It can take over 2 years from order for a Mk41 delivery.
really poor response here from the minister
we all know the original design has ability for 32 Mk41 in the midsection and that this has been retained or can be inserted in with little work.
so the only question is – are they getting 32 cells or not?
Will this Government actually answer a question directly at any point?
Well we now know we are not getting them anytime soon, when we get an actual order start a 2-3 year clock.
The Babcock MRNP variant of the AH140 showed that two mk41s could go into the B position so just having the rear 40mm. 2xExls could go on there too. They’re kind of spoilt for choice.
The ship has very little offence capability without them…. And limited longer reaching AA if only 12 camms are fitted.
Its a large OPV not a fridget and not able to work in contested waters, little use as an escort or in a Russian/Chinese conflict.
I just wish they would fit them urgently as the only thing this ship can do with the current setup is be a target and defend against drones, its camm missile bank will be empty in the fast if attacked air or by anti ship missiles.
There is no reason for this it has a good sensors/radars except no sonnar.
They cannot fit them urgently as we have not ordered them.
Probably won’t order them until MBDA confirms that that Aster can be fired from a Mk41 VLS – for which they’ve been given a one year contract to determine.
No, it has nothing to do with that. T31 cannot effectively use Aster and was not planned to, it’s better suited for CAMm and strike weapons.
It’s just another funding delay.