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In a world of significant geopolitical instability, national security has never been more important as defence requirements become increasingly complex to deliver. Ensuring those critical services are readily available, affordable, and long-lasting is a vital task. And Babcock is built for that task. Now more than ever, what we do matters. Creating a safe and secure world, together.
From submarines beneath the waves to secure communications in space, we ensure the services are equipped to fulfil their mission. We make their mission, our mission. We’re by our services’ side as we equip them to fulfil their duty. Delivering the capability they need, available to them wherever, whenever, and however they need it. Whether it’s applying engineering excellence or the latest technology, we combine our expertise with a practical mindset. Able to tackle high stakes, complex tasks in the most challenging environments. That is why our customers trust us to deliver their critical programmes.
At the show
DSEI provides an excellent opportunity to meet with our team who will be hosting showcases and demos covering all the defence domains on our stand plus featuring in panel sessions within the Babcock sponsored Naval Forum where we will be joined by industry specialists and officials to discuss the latest issues facing the industry. The forum offers thought-provoking sessions, allowing visitors to gain vital insights into emerging trends and technologies.
Our team will also be demonstrating how we deliver technical support and critical services to our defence and civil customers. We provide through-life technical and engineering know-how for our customers’ assets, delivering improvements in performance, availability, and programme cost. We will also be on stand with daily demos on how we design, develop and manufacture and integrate specialist systems and will be showcasing our Arrowhead140 frigate in a new and exciting way.!
The design of Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 frigate originates from an air defence frigate but can change operational role rapidly depending upon capability needs and will meet naval requirements both now and in the future. It is a multi-mission surface combatant capable of conducting AAW, ASuW, ASW and EW operations and is operationally proficient in both blue water and littoral areas.
The Arrowhead 140 export programme continues to go from strength to strength with major milestones recently being met in global build programmes.
Export Success
We were delighted to join PT PAL in Indonesia at the keel laying ceremony for the first of two new frigates for the Indonesian Navy, which are based on our Arrowhead 140 design.
The ceremony took place at state-owned PT PAL in Surabaya, Indonesia where the ships are being built by a local workforce. Working with PT PAL, we are sharing our engineering know-how and ship-build experience – supporting the construction of the frigate in their facilities.
In Poland, following the Strategic Cooperation Agreement signed in 2022 we have finalised the design licence agreement with the PGZ- MIECZNIK consortium which allows the consortium to build three frigates for the Polish Navy.
This contract is the result of strong collaboration and is another export licence for our Arrowhead 140 product, following our agreement in Indonesia in 2021.
To mark the start of the construction on the first MIECZNIK frigate, we also attended the first cut of steel at the PGZ Shipyard in Gydnia.
At the milestone event, together with PGZ S.A, we also entered into a Framework Agreement with the intention of forming a joint venture that will further strengthen our strategic partnership. Combining our shipbuilding and equipment support capabilities, we will work more closely to deliver the MIECZNIK frigate programme.
This will also allow us to seek opportunities to partner in supporting other naval and wider defence programmes and the potential development of broader international opportunities, looking at optimising resources, capabilities and infrastructure across both organisations.
We are now supporting global Arrowhead programmes with work on the UK Royal Navy’s Type 31 Inspiration Class programme at Rosyth progressing with the multi-ship programme in full swing.
Keel laying for the first ship – HMS Venturer – took place in April 2022 with whole ship assembly and outfitting progressing in our purpose build Venturer build hall. For the second ship in class, HMS Active, steel cut was undertaken in January 2023 with its keel preparing to being laid in September 2023.
We look forward to progressing our relationships with colleagues across programmes and delivering this complex, capable warship that is well placed to serve multi-operational demands on the global stage.
Our People
With people at the heart of our business we were pleased to launch the Babcock Skills Academy, to enhance our growing workforce’s capabilities and ensure we are equipped to meet the evolving challenges our customers will face in the future.
The Skills Academy uses a hybrid teaching model that combines cutting-edge digital resources and hands on training, to rapidly get our people ready to deliver the critical capabilities our customers need. Open to all employees and new recruits, the Skills Academy will operate in partnership with local education establishments and will complement our award-winning early careers programmes. If you are interested in a career with Babcock, please check out our recruitment page [here] Our focus on innovation in capability development has also seen us welcome the first team of 10 to our new Trainee Welder Programme at Rosyth. This is a 4.5 year capability pathway, where certification for an Accelerated Apprenticeship in Welding is aimed at attracting individuals with a range of backgrounds and experience.
This programme, which will support projects like the Type 31 build at Rosyth, will contribute towards mitigating critical skills shortages in the UK, developing employment opportunities within our local community and supporting both our present day and future business.
We’re looking forward to welcoming the next 10 apprentices to Babcock within the next couple of months.
