Details emerge on new Type 32 Frigate, to sail in 2032
- Details
- Category: Seguridad marítima
- Published on Monday, 09 January 2023 10:34
- Written by Administrator2
- Hits: 794
The Type 32 Frigate programme concept phase began in September 2022, and the first vessel is hoped to enter service in 2032.
John Healey, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, asked:
“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2022 to Question 102771 on Type 32 Frigates: Procurement, when his Department plans to complete the concept phase of the Type 32 Frigate programme.”
And also:
“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) in service and (b) out of service dates are for the (i) Type 23 frigate programme, (ii) Type 26 frigate programme, (iii) Type 32 frigate programme, (iv) Type 45 destroyer programme and (v) Type 83 destroyer programme.”
Alex Chalk, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, responded:
“On current plans, the last Type 23 frigate will transition out of service in 2035 while all ships of the Type 26 Class are expected to enter service between 2028 and 2035. Current planning assumptions are for the Type 32 frigates to enter service over a period of three years commencing in 2032.
It is expected that the last Type 45 destroyer will transition out of service in 2038. The Future Air Dominance System, which is still at the programme pre-concept phase, but is likely to include the Type 83, will replace the Type 45 in line with its out of service dates.”
He also added:
“The Type 32 Frigate programme concept phase began in September 2022. The concept phase will end once the requirements for the platform have been finalised, and once overall programme funding has been confirmed.”Despite funding concerns Type 32 Frigate is still planned
A recent report from the National Audit Office stated that the Royal Navy withdrew its plans for Type 32 frigates because of concerns about unaffordability; however, it has emerged that work on the project is continuing.
The November 2022 report of the National Audit Office on The Equipment Plan 2022-2032 stated that in July 2022 “Navy Command withdrew its plans for Type 32 frigates and MRSS [Multi-Role Support Ships] because of concerns about unaffordability. The revised costing profile is likely to be significantly higher”.
Addressing the above, John Healey, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, asked via Parliamentary written question:
“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 20 of the NAO report on the Equipment Plan 2022 to 2032, HC 907, published on 29 November, for what reason Navy Command was concerned about the affordability of the Type 32 frigate programme.”
Alex Chalk, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, responded:
“The Type 32 Frigate programme remains a key part of the future fleet and is currently in the concept phase. Work continues to ensure the programme is affordable in order to deliver the ships the Navy and Marines need.”
What will Type 32 do?
In November 2021, former Royal Navy First Sea Lord Tony Radakin announced that the ship had entered its concept phase. He added that it was too early to define its characteristics, but being a “Type 31 Batch 2” frigate could be an option.
The revised National Shipbuilding Strategy, released in March 2022, suggested that the Type 32 frigates were likely to be “the first of a new generation of warships with a focus on hosting and operating autonomous onboard systems“. Earlier comments by the then Minister for Defense Procurement, Jeremy Quin, also suggested that the new Type 32 frigate will be a platform for autonomous systems, adding to the Royal Navy’s capabilities for missions such as anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures.