'Complex' Type 31 Royal Navy shipbuilding project subject to extra 'oversight' amid fears of delays and costs
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Five General Purpose Frigates are being built and will be based in Portsmouth once they enter the Royal Navy fleet
Challenges are causing setbacks for a ‘complex’ Royal Navy shipbuilding project amid fears over delays and ballooning costs.
MPs will be monitoring Babcock International’s Type 31 programme. A total of five General Purpose Frigates are being built to bolster the force’s shrinking fleet, but challenges are occurring amid the race to construct them.
According to the National Infrastructure & Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2025 to 2026, the programme is in danger of slipping its targets. It was graded red on the traffic light scale, which determines whether the scheme is likely to be completed on time and to its allocated budget. The programme received the same rating last year.
The report said the red category means that a programme has major issues over schedule, budgets, and quality - usually meaning that successful delivery needs re-scoping and changes need to be made to meet targets. Out of all 40 Ministry of Defence (MoD) projects, 16 are graded red, 17 amber, two green, and five exempt for security reasons.
Labour’s minister for defence readiness and industry, Luke Pollard, addressed the Type 31 programme grade while responding to a parliamentary written question by Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty.
He said: “The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with Babcock, the prime contractor, to ensure the Type 31 programme meets all user requirements to deliver a maritime security capability at a value for money price, in a timescale that is competitive with other international warship procurement programmes.
“Challenges can be expected when delivering a complex warship against an ambitious build timeline. Working closely with Babcock enables us to resolve any issues that may arise, alongside maturing the design and progressing construction, ensuring the build programme is stable and repeatable going forward.”
The five Inspiration-class frigates - HMS Venturer, Active, Formidable, Bulldog and Campbelltown - will be based in Portsmouth once they’re commissioned into the Royal Navy fleet. Replacing their ageing Type 23 counterparts, the frigates will be tasked with a range of operations including maritime security patrols, anti-piracy missions, disaster relief operations, diplomatic engagements, and other tasks.
HMS Venturer and Active are currently in the fitting out phase in the dry docks. Engines, propulsion units, machinery, and accommodation, are all being installed - turning an empty shell into a working vessel.
Work is being undertaken on HMS Formidable in the Venturer Hall after her keel was laid in December last year. HMS Bulldog is in the very early stages of construction. Mr Pollard said all five ships are expected to be in service by the early 2030s. Pressure is mounting to meet this deadline due to fleet falling in numbers.
He added: “The integration, testing and assurance of ship systems activities need to remain aligned with the overall delivery schedule and transition into Royal Navy operational service. The complex nature of this work can present challenges, however all activities are subject to ongoing oversight by the MoD to ensure successful delivery to the Royal Navy.”
A Babcock International spokesperson said: “The five ship build programme remains on track to deliver highly capable ships to the Royal Navy, as agreed with the customer. As part of the previously concluded Dispute Resolution Process with the Ministry of Defence, there was an agreed programme restructure which was reported in our FY24 results.”