RN Frigates: Type 32

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TYPE 32

The Type 32 Frigate – What do we know?
March 23, 202116
According to the recently released ‘Defence Command Paper’, the Type 32 frigates will be designed to protect territorial waters, to provide persistent presence overseas and to support Littoral Response Groups.


The first mention of a new Type 32 frigate came in the Prime Minister’s 19 November statement. He said: “We are going to develop the next generation of warships, including multi-role research vessels and Type 32 frigates.”

The Defence Command Paper, titled ‘Defence in a Competitive Age’, describes the planned programme:
Continues at:
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/the-typ ... A9cYxbIR2g

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AN EARLIER POST ELSEWHERE DATED 29TH NOVEMBER 2020:
Real hope for a bigger Royal Navy – the Type 32 frigate concept


As part of the Integrated Review announcements on 19th November, the Type 32 frigate concept emerged blinking into the light of public gaze for the first time. In this speculative article, we consider the possible design of this vessel and when it may enter service.

There are plenty of theories doing the rounds about the purpose of Type 32 which include; motherships for mine warfare USVs, an anti-submarine specialist or a replacement for the Type 45 destroyer. It is very early days and the RN is still working to define its requirement in more detail but official sources say the vessel will primarily be a general-purpose frigate. It will play a similar presence and maritime security role as the Type 31 and will not be a high-end combatant like the Type 26.

‘The Type 31 Batch II’
Delivery of the Type 31 is a fixed contract between Babcock and the MoD that does not allow the customer to make changes to the design or equipment fit during construction. Although there is plenty of margin for additions, any upgrades will have to be made after they enter service. As embodied by the RN’s transformation programme, there is a recognition of the increasing pace of global change and the main difference between Type 31 and Type 32 will be to incorporate a decade’s worth of technological advances.


There are no guarantees but logic dictates Type 32 will almost certainly be a development of the Type 31. There are many good reasons for this. It would be expensive and take time to develop a new combatant design from scratch and if there is already an open production line for Type 31 up and running, it would make sense to sustain the drumbeat of work and utilise the experience readily available from building a similar platform. This approach would keep costs down and allow manufacture to start sooner. Assuming the Type 31 hull is used as the basis for the platform, commonality of propulsion and other systems could be maintained, simplifying both the design, logistic support and training requirements.

Besides BAE Systems in Glasgow fully occupied with Type 26, there are no other UK shipbuilders with recent experience of warship construction. Theoretically, Cammell Laird could build a Type 32 design based on the BAES ‘Leander’ candidate that failed to win the Type 31 competition but this would appear to be a much higher risk option.

There are a few wrinkles to iron out in any proposal to just continue production at Rosyth. Competition is a central tenet of the National Shipbuilding Strategy which could make it politically awkward simply to award the Type 32 contract to Babcock, even if this makes most industrial and economic sense. Other UK consortiums will want a chance to be involved despite the Fleet Solid Support Ship action and other work in the promised shipbuilding renaissance. The possibility of Scottish Independence also casts a malevolent shadow of uncertainty over any long term discussion about UK warship building.

A combatant fit for the 2040s
Automation and off-board systems are the are two key areas where Type 32 is likely to differ significantly from Type 31. Artificial Intelligence and automation is likely to have a greater role, in the combat management system, navigation systems and maintenance management. Continuing the trend of reduced crew size places fewer people in harm’s way, lowers costs and may offer a quicker response to complex threats. The entirely uncrewed warship may not yet be viable by the 2030s but that is the direction of development.

While further automation can primarily be achieved with software and may have a less visible effect on ship design, increased reliance on hosting off-board autonomous platforms will have a bigger impact. One of the weaknesses of Type 31 is that its mission bay is below the flight deck. Useful for storing containerised equipment but it has to be loaded or unloaded by crane in harbour. There are 4 boat bays but these are limited to launching RIBs or small/lightweight UUV and USVs.

With no significant effort to reduce its acoustic signature for simplicity and cost reasons, Type 31 is a poor ASW platform. By deploying a medium-large size UUV equipped with its own sensors that can dive deep and get away from the radiated noise of its mother ship this situation could potentially be remedied. The 4-tonne USVs that the RN is acquiring for the autonomous mine hunting and similar vessels that may be used for patrol and surveillance would also need robust handling systems if they are to be deployed from a frigate in the open sea.

Continues at:
https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/real-h ... N_LdpT7WXA

A POST FROM 28TH APRIL 2021:
More frigates to be built in Scotland

In addition to 8 Type 26 Frigates and 5 Type 31 Frigates, Scottish shipyards will also be building an unspecified number of Type 32 Frigates.
Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, recently stated that Rosyth would be building Tytpe 32 Frigates in addition to Type 31 Frigates.

See - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/more-fr ... W_QTTeuDlI

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More details emerge about the Type 32 Frigate

More details about the Type 32 Frigate project have emerged as it is announced the warship has entered its concept design phase.
Earlier this month, during a meeting of the Defence Committee, it was announced that the general purpose ship had entered its concept phase. First Sea Lord Tony Radakin added that it was too early to define its characteristics but being a “Type 31 Batch 2” frigate could be an option. You can read more about that proposal here.

See - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/more-de ... wH15r475u8

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Type 32 Frigate to focus on operating drones

The refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy has provided further detail on the upcoming Type 32 Frigates.

The document states:
“The Type 32 programme will be the first of a new generation of warships with a focus on hosting and operating autonomous onboard systems that add mass and a cost of complexity upon our adversaries. Many of these autonomous capabilities and other complex systems will be delivered in a modular manner, which offers the potential to simplify the host platform whilst retaining the flexibility to optimise it for a range of specific tasks. It also provides a route to delivering the adaptability that will be essential for all future Royal Navy ships to enable them to outpace evolving threats and capitalise on emerging technology.
Continues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/type-32 ... 6k3Q4SIfKs

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A guide to Britain’s new frigate types
By George Allison - May 25, 2022
The Royal Navy will soon have three new frigate classes, namely the Type 26, Type 31 and Type 32 but how much do you really know about them? This brief guide should bring you up to speed on the basics.


We’re all familiar with the various frigate types being built for the Royal Navy but many of us, myself included, may not be fully ‘clued-up’ on specifics like the build schedule, unit cost etc. So, I wanted to find out.

To this end, I was given access to Shephard’s ‘Defence Insight’ service, a fantastic platform used by industry to evaluate the latest information, modelling and intelligence on almost every defence project in the world, from information on the concept down to build schedules. I’m not exaggerating, it really is that comprehensive.

Continues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/a-guide ... 1y6nJUwjJg

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This is BAE'S Maritime Adaptable Strike Frigate concept featuring the Cube System developed by SH Defence - a modular/PODS system.

Early days but a possible candidate for the RN's Type 32 frigate competition.
See - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgvCepc-SV4

Stern view.

Chinook-sized flight deck
Main hangar and UAV kennel
PODS on quarterdeck

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BAES_Maritime

Adaptable Strike Frigate concept model on display at #Euronaval2022 Possible RN Type 32 frigate candidate.
In-depth article to follow next week.
[Above from Navy Lookout.]

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Although no formal requirement has yet been issued, industry is beginning to explore options for the Royal Navy’s Type 32 Frigate programme. In this article, we look in detail at the warship concept developed by BAE Systems to showcase potential ideas for this future frigate.

Background
The Type 32 frigate programme was first made public by Boris Johnson in November 2020 as the means by which the RN may increase escort numbers in the 2030s. The project formally began the Concept Phase on 21 September 2022 and will seek to deliver an Outline Business Case required before moving to the Assessment Phase. From what has been stated publicly about the project, it has been possible for BAES to develop the Adaptable Strike Frigate concept (ASF) as a credible outline design to meet the likely needs of the navy. It also serves as a starting point for discussion with potential industry partners and with possible export customers.
The ASF design flows from the themes that have been outlined in the Integrated Review (IR) and Defence Command Paper (DCP) published in March 2021 and the Maritime Operating Concept (MarOpC) published in September 2022. In broad terms, this demands a frigate that is digitally and data-enabled, ‘protean’ (able to rapidly re-role), will utilise off-board autonomous capabilities and provide a persistent presence overseas. Increased automation on the ship and a very low core crew requirement is also part of the vision for what will eventually be one of three frigate classes, operating with Type 26 and Type 31s. Initially, Type 32 was perceived as being primarily a mothership for autonomous mine warfare systems. Although this will be one of its roles, Admiral Radakin subsequently confirmed it would be a general-purpose frigate.
There is no budget or specific cost target attached to Type 32 as yet, although it is expected to be a 5-ship programme and seen as a follow-on from Type 31. It is unlikely to be a high-end combatant and BAES says the platform price for ASF would be in the £250-300M ballpark, with the weapon/sensor fit and modular capabilities to be selected by the customer at additional cost
Continues at - https://www.navylookout.com/in-focus-ba ... e-concept/

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Navy Lookout

NAO report into MoD Equipment Plan says In July 2022 Navy Command withdrew its initial plans for Type 32 frigates and Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSS) because of concerns about unaffordability.

The revised costing profile is likely to be "significantly higher".

[Dated today]

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Despite funding concerns Type 32 Frigate still planned


A recent report from the National Audit Office stated that the Royal Navy withdrew its plans for Type 32 frigates because of concerns about unaffordability, however, it has emerged that work on the project is continuing.
The November 2022 report of the National Audit Office on The Equipment Plan 2022-2032 stated that in July 2022 “Navy Command withdrew its plans for Type 32 frigates and MRSS [Multi-Role Support Ships] because of concerns about unaffordability. The revised costing profile is likely to be significantly higher”.

Addressing the above, John Healey, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, asked via Parliamentary written question:

“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 20 of the NAO report on the Equipment Plan 2022 to 2032, HC 907, published on 29 November, for what reason Navy Command was concerned about the affordability of the Type 32 frigate programme.”

Alex Chalk, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, responded:

“The Type 32 Frigate programme remains a key part of the future fleet and is currently in the concept phase. Work continues to ensure the programme is affordable in order to deliver the ships the Navy and Marines need.”

What will Type 32 do?
In November 2021, former Royal Navy First Sea Lord Tony Radakin announced that the ship had entered its concept phase. He added that it was too early to define its characteristics, but being a “Type 31 Batch 2” frigate could be an option.

The revised National Shipbuilding Strategy, released in March 2022, suggested that the Type 32 frigates were likely to be “the first of a new generation of warships with a focus on hosting and operating autonomous onboard systems“.

Earlier comments by the UK’s Minister for Defense Procurement, Jeremy Quin, also suggested that the new Type 32 frigate will be a platform for autonomous systems, adding to the Royal Navy’s capabilities for missions such as anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures.

From - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/despite ... c9zcEloXgQ - Which contains links to other material.