Babcock unveils Assembly Hall for the manufacturing of new Type 31 frigate for British Navy.

According to news published by the British Royal Navy on December 11, 2020, the British Company Babcock has unveiled the Assembly Hall that will initially be used for the manufacturing of the new Type 31 general purpose frigate program for the British Navy and provides a modern, future-ready facility designed to assemble two vessels side by side.
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Artist rendering of new Type 31 frigate for British Royal Navy. (Picture source British Navy)

British Company Babcock awarded a £31.5 million contract to Robertson Construction for the development of a new Assembly Hall at its Rosyth site. The construction project will support circa 100 positions locally in Scotland and a further 100 positions nationally throughout the supply chain. Standing at 147 meters long, the hall at Rosyth includes 30-metre high ‘megadoors’ and will be able to accommodate two of the 138.7-meter vessels being assembled at the same time side by side.

The Type 31 is a planned class of frigates that will be manufactured for the British Navy. In November 2019, British Company Babcock has been contracted by the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) to deliver five Type 31 frigates. The Type 31 builds upon the already successful Iver Huitfeldt Global Frigate design, incorporating changes to provide a Compliant and Adaptable Modern platform.

In September 2017, the British Royal Navy released a graphic to present the design of the new Type 31 frigate. Core requirements of the Type 31 frigate include a medium caliber gun, point defense systems, hangar and a flight deck for Wildcat or ten-tonne helicopter operated by a crew of around 100 with space for 40 more personnel.

The British government released a Request for Information (RFI) in September 2017, detailing the desired characteristics of the Type 31. The RFI provides greater details such as a "Medium Caliber Gun" of greater than 57 mm (2.2 in), a point defense anti-air missile system and the optional ability to launch and recover unmanned aerial vehicles.[43] Forces News reported that the design will contain Sea Ceptor missiles, an advanced air and surface surveillance and target indication radar such as the Thales NS100 and be able to operate either an AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 or an AgustaWestland Merlin HM2.

On 1 October 2020, BAE Systems announced it was under contract to supply five Bofors 57 Mk3 medium caliber guns and ten Bofors 40 Mk4 small caliber guns to the Royal Navy for the first five Type 31 frigates