Polish Shipyard Participates in UK Type 31 Frigate Construction

Polish shipyard participates in the construction of a British Type 31 frigate
A model of Arrowhead 140, which is the design base for the Type 31 and Swordfish frigates, showing the various hull blocks, superstructures and masts. (Photo by Tomasz Grotnik)
British online daily The Telegraph has published an article reporting that a Polish shipyard is participating in the construction of a Type 31 Inspiration-class frigate for the Royal Navy. In practice, the news is not new, but so far it has not been officially commented on by the parties involved in the venture.
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The contract for the production of the hull section of the Type 31 Inspiration-class frigate for the British Royal Navy, was concluded between Babcock International Group and PGZ Naval Shipyard as early as December 20, 2022. Since the final recipient of the ship is the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the United Kingdom, the two companies did not officially announce the signing of the contract without London’s approval. Naval News learned of the fact by chance, during a February meeting of the Polish Parliament’s Maritime Affairs and Inland Navigation Committee, when the contract was announced.

The Type 31 frigates are based on the same Arrowhead 140 parent design as the Miecznik-class frigates, which will be built for the Polish Navy by a consortium of PGZ Stocznia Wojenna (PGZ SW) and Remontowa Shipbuilding backed by Babcock International Group. 

The UK MoD itself did not publicize the contract issue either, as the order to build five Type 31 Inspiration-class frigates was a part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy announced in 2017. As a result of the new concept of restructuring British industry, the contract was not awarded to BAE Systems, the company that is essentially a monopoly in the design and production of surface ships and submarines for the Royal Navy, but to the smaller and arguably less experienced Babcock, which was supposed to foster a renaissance of the shipbuilding industry and create jobs in the UK. So announcing that some of the work would be done in Poland, rather than in Britain, is not in line with British government policy.

Polish shipyard participates in the construction of a British Type 31 frigate
Photo credit: Tomasz Grotnik

Not surprisingly, Babcock’s representatives insist that Polish participation in the program is marginal, and that the purpose of the venture is to help implement the Miecznik program, which is a Arrowhead 140 derivative. It was not stated specifically how many hull and/or superstructure sections will be made in Poland. Considering that an essential component of a ship’s final price is the combat system, i.e. sensor and weapon systems, the Polish shipyard’s “small percentage share” of production does not necessarily mean a small number of sections. The share is said to be less than 1% of the value of the contract for five Type 31 frigates, which cost £1.25 billion.

According to The Telegraph, the components from Poland are to be part of the future HMS Active, the second ship-in-class and the first serial produced Type 31 vessel, construction of which began in January this year. The British side’s explanation, attributing the commissioning of PGZ SW for hull work on a frigate for the Royal Navy to a desire to train Polish shipbuilders, is hardly credible. Those are unlikely to need special training. However, it is possible that in addition to supporting the British with manpower and reducing construction costs, it is about commissioning new equipment and machine tools, purchased by PGZ SW as part of the shipyard’s modernization for the Miecznika program. It also cannot be ruled out that the order is a test of the Polish shipyard ahead of possible Babcock’s export contract agreements.

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