Frigates News

Babcock has been awarded the contract to manage the Type 23 class frigate Refit Support Group, allowing the company to take end-to-end responsibility for vessel upkeep and regeneration in preparation for handover to the ship’s crew.This innovative change follows more than five years of close working between the Royal Navy-led Refit Support Group and Babcock.It frees up UK Royal Navy personnel for front line operations and creates new and exciting roles for 40 Babcock engineering technicians and managers at its Devonport facility…

Damen Naval has contracted RENK to supply the gearbox systems for the new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates.The Dutch shipyard is building four new frigates, two each for the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Belgian navy.The contract includes eight gearboxes that are part of the CODLAD (COmbined Diesel-eLectric And Diesel) propulsion system.RENK's Dutch subsidiary Schelde Gears will provide support in design and service activities.The first gearboxes are due to arrive for installation in October 2025…

Babcock International Group continues its successful delivery of the Royal Navy Type 31 frigates with the keel laying of HMS Active, the second of the five-ship Inspiration class program.The two warships are being built simultaneously, with work continuing only meters away on the first of the Inspiration class, HMS Venturer.In keeping with tradition, Babcock asked their youngest apprentice, first-year Electrical Fitter, Robbie Dick, to place the specially designed coin under the keel.Babcock’s Type 31…

The Dutch Ministry of Defence, Damen, and Thales have signed the contract for the design, construction, and delivery of four Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Frigates; two for the Netherlands and two for Belgium, focused on anti-submarine warfare.The agreement was signed on HNLMS Karel Doorman, the Royal Netherlands Navy's largest ship, by the Dutch Defence State Secretary Christophe van der Maat, Damen Shipyards Group CEO Arnout Damen, Damen Naval Managing Director Roland Briene…

Babcock has started construction of the first of five Royal Navy Type 31 frigates, HMS Venturer, at its Rosyth facility in the UK.After cutting the first steel on the program in September 2021, the traditional keel-laying event formally recognized the start of the build, including placing a specially commissioned coin under the keel. On completion of the ship, the coin will be presented to the Captain and crew. The ceremony was held in the new build hall, the Venturer Building, which forms part of a £60 million investment program, on top of an additional £100 million over the last ten years.

Babcock International said Friday it had been selected as the platform design provider and technology partner for Poland’s MIECZNIK (Swordfish) new frigate program.The company on Friday also concluded a set of strategic cooperation agreements with the PGZ-MIECZNIK Consortium, which is responsible for the delivery of the project from the Polish side.The Polish Armaments Agency selected Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 (AH140) from three different platform design proposals provided by the PGZ-MIECZNIK Consortium.

Thyssenkrupp is in intense discussions with European peers about consolidation in the warship sector, Chief Executive Martina Merz told analysts on Thursday.Thyssenkrupp has said that it is exploring partnerships for its Marine Systems division, which builds frigates and submarines, and Merz said developing the unit as a standalone business within the group was not the most likely scenario.Sources said earlier this year that Thyssenkrupp was in talks with Italy's Fincantieri about a possible tie-up and there is regular speculation about France's Naval Group as a potential partner.

Lloyd's Register (LR) has awarded approval in principle (AiP) to South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for the design of its HDF-3800 frigate.The design allows for the frigate to be equipped with modern weapons and sensors, and it will be able to undertake Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) missions. Additional combat capabilities include Electronic Warfare (EW), Land Attack Warfare (LAW) and the capability of anti-drone systems and to launch and recover unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).Furthermore…