Babcock cuts steel for third Royal Navy Inspiration class frigate, HMS Formidable

The steel-cutting ceremony, held on 9 October, took place just 20 months after work began on the second ship, HMS Active, demonstrating the fast pace of the Type 31 programme.

HMS Venturer, the first Type 31 frigate, is nearing structural completion at Rosyth, alongside HMS Active, with significant progress made on the programme.

The ceremony was attended by employees, apprentices, graduates, and senior figures from the UK Government, Royal Navy, and industry, celebrating the milestone.

David Lockwood, Babcock’s CEO, emphasised the importance of the frigates for UK defence and international cooperation, as well as the economic impact of the shipbuilding programme.

The event, themed ‘Formidable Engineering,’ highlighted the engineering excellence involved, with a focus on STEM education and skills development.

Babcock is set to create 1,000 new jobs at Rosyth over the next four years, including apprenticeships, to support the long-term success of the Type 31 programme.

Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, praised the project for bolstering national security and creating jobs across Scotland and the UK.

The Type 31 design, known as Arrowhead 140, has already secured export deals with Indonesia and Poland, further supporting the UK economy.