UK faces £100 million bill for frigate refit
The refit of the Duke-class frigate HMS Westminster is estimated to cost £100 million. (Photo: UK MoD/ Crown Copyright)
The cost of keeping the frigate fleet going poses a challenge for UK RN.
The refit of UK RN Duke-class Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster is estimated to cost £100 million ($127 million), according to UK Defence Procurement Minister James Cartlidge.
Cartlidge revealed the price tag in response to a Parliamentary question.
In response to another question, the Minister declined to disclose when the refit of HMS Westminster was estimated to be completed.
Related Articles
Rolls-Royce awarded £85 million to support RN Type 23 engine
End of the line for frigate HMS Montrose
GA-ASI gears up to trial Mojave UAV from a Royal Navy aircraft carrier
Cartlidge said: ‘We do not disclose the date refits are expected to conclude, as this could give rise to the release of operationally sensitive information.’
Previously, it was disclosed that the refit of another Type 23 frigate, HMS Iron Duke, was estimated to cost around £103 million. This figure is subject to final negotiations with Babcock.
HMS Iron Duke’s refit ran from 2018 to 2023 and took some 1.7 million hours of work.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment]()
HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment
The Astute-class submarine’s visit to Australia was the first time maintenance activity on a UK Royal Navy nuclear submarine had been carried out in the country.
-
![US Pentagon claims to have severely damaged Iranian capabilities, promises to increase attacks]()
US Pentagon claims to have severely damaged Iranian capabilities, promises to increase attacks
US military authorities claim to have sunk 20 Iranian vessels and destroyed Tehran’s Air Force, with the Pentagon making plans to send additional assets to the region.
-
![Greece’s newly commissioned FDI frigate deployed to Cyprus]()
Greece’s newly commissioned FDI frigate deployed to Cyprus
The recent naval modernisation efforts by the Hellenic Navy have been bolstered by the acquisition of advanced Naval Group frigates, the first of which was delivered in December 2025 and is now playing a crucial role in the latest Middle East conflict.
