UK: Babcock holds keel laying ceremony for Type 31 frigate HMS Active.

According to a PR published by Babcock on September 16, 2023, the firm progresses its commitment to the Royal Navy's Type 31 frigate series, laying the keel for HMS Active, the subsequent frigate in the five-strong Inspiration class lineup.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Keel laying ceremony for Type 31 frigate HMS Active. (Picture source: Babcock)

The ceremonial keel laying indicates the initiation of the programme's phase where dual warships are under construction concurrently. This event saw construction activities for the first of its kind, HMS Venturer, taking place in close proximity.

Key figures at the event encompassed personnel from the UK Royal Navy, the UK's MOD procurement division Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), and delegates from Poland's MIECZNIK frigate association.

Interestingly, Poland's frigate venture, resonating with the UK's Type 31 and Indonesian Merah Putih series, echoes Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 blueprint. It recently celebrated its own achievement, marking the beginning of the fabrication of one of its three ships.

Type 31

The HMS Active has a displacement of 5,700 tons and measures 138.7 meters in length. The ship's power comes from four Rolls Royce/MTU 20V 8000 M71 diesel engines and four Rolls Royce/MTU 16V 2000 M41B generators. Her propulsion system includes a MAN Alpha VBS Mk 5 CP propeller, operating with two shafts in a CODAD configuration.

Regarding her performance, the HMS Active can achieve speeds in excess of 28 knots and has an endurance of 9,000 nautical miles. Her crew capacity ranges from 80 to 100, but she can accommodate up to 160 individuals if necessary.

The frigate is outfitted with the TACTICOS combat management system, Thales NS110 3D radar, Raytheon Warship Integrated Navigation and Bridge System, Terma Scanter and Raytheon NSX navigation radars, and two Mirador Mk2 EOS. She also utilizes the Viasat Ultrahigh-frequency satellite communications system and has a Vigile-D ESM for electronic warfare.