The new Type 31 frigates are to be built by Babcock who designed them to be a cheaper and more compact warship than the bigger Type 26, currently in service and under construction. The important thing is that they cost £250 million each, cheap in modern terms for a fully fledged ocean going warship with cutting edge capabilities. Five are being ordered. Amidst the chaos of Brexit, hard, soft or none, the news will come as a great boost to the yards at Barrow-in-Furness, where they will be built, with significant spin off for contractors and suppliers elsewhere.
The sad state of our Royal Navy, once the premier sea force of the world and now reduced to little more than regatta numbers of vessels, will be eased by this increase in numbers. The truth is that so much resource has been taken up by the construction of the two giant Queen Elisabeth class carriers, creating together with the new Dreadnaught Trident deterrent submarines, something of a strategic strength founded on tactical weakness. That never works. Five new tactical ships is good, but we need another twenty. For Global Britain. In case you forgot.