Royal Navy names five new Inspiration-Class Type-31 warships
Inspiration-class Type 31 frigate. (Photo: Babcock)
The UK RN has announced the names of five next-generation Type 31 frigates.
The vessels will be named HMS Active, HMS Bulldog, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Formidable and HMS Venturer.
These frigates are grouped as the Inspiration class and their names have been drawn from former RN warships and submarines.
The UK government announced last November that the MoD would receive an increase in funding of over £24 billion over the next four years.
As part of this increase, the Inspiration-class frigates are being introduced to replace in-service Type 23 vessels. Shipbuilder Babcock has been responsible for the construction of the new frigates.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the Inspiration class will be armed with a Mk45 Mod4 5-inch (127mm) gun, a 32-cell MK 41 strike length vertical launching system capable of launching Sea Ceptor/Evolved SeaSparrow missiles and Tomahawk Land Attack cruise missiles.
Each Inspiration-class vessel has a displacement of 6,095t, an overall length of 128.7m, a maximum beam of 19.8m and a draught of 5m.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
The UK joins the movement towards joint procurement
The UK will spend an estimated US$3.89 billion over the next decade in joint naval programmes, a lot of which will be in cooperation with Norway.
-
Rheinmetall’s GMF 140: Ambitious frigate or market misfit?
Rheinmetall has unveiled its first next-generation frigate design, showing ambitions to compete as a surface combatant prime contractor. While the company is targeting North America, analysts believe the concept may be better positioned for future European programmes.
-
US Navy $76.6bn award provides stability for submarine production
The US Department of War’s US$76.6 billion Columbia-and Virginia-class submarine contract gives industry demand certainty as Washington seeks to rebuild its shipbuilding base.
-
Hanwha Ocean deepens US ties and eyes Saudi submarine prospect after Canada setback
Hanwha Ocean is deepening ties with the US and eyeing a submarine opportunity in Saudi Arabia, as South Korea looks to convert its Canadian defeat into export momentum.