While the UK continues to pop the champagne over its Australia success with BAE Systems' Type 26 design win, the programme for the smaller Type 31e light frigate has fallen at the first hurdle.
As the UK Defence Minister, Gavin Williamson, spent last week showcasing UK shipbuilding capabilities in Glasgow to his Australian counterpart, London has decided to put a pause to the Type 31e programme.
First reported by Jane's and confirmed to Shephard by the UK MoD, the current competition for the Type 31e light frigate will be ‘restarted due to insufficient compliant bids received for an effective