The UK Ministry of Defense is assessing the impact of inflation on the Type 31 frigate program, with pressure on labor costs and the wider supply chain raising questions about the program’s overall affordability.
In written parliamentary answers to Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, Defense Minister Luke Pollard confirmed that the assessment is ongoing but declined to disclose the program’s current approved budgetary limit or provide a completion date for the review.
The ministry does not routinely publish detailed approved budgetary limits for individual acquisition programs when disclosure could prejudice its commercial interests, Pollard said. He added that any changes to the Type 31 program’s budget or approvals would be considered through the department’s established governance processes.
Responding to a separate question about the sources of inflationary pressure, Pollard identified labor and the wider supply chain as areas affecting the program. The Ministry of Defense continues to assess how these pressures affect costs and overall affordability.
The minister did not specify the scale of the additional costs, identify particular contracts or suppliers affected, or indicate whether the program’s budget would need to be increased.
The Type 31 frigates, also known as the Inspiration class, are being built by Babcock at its Rosyth facility in Scotland for the Royal Navy. The program is intended to deliver five general-purpose frigates as part of the UK’s future surface fleet.
In May this year, Babcock revealed that the Type 31 frigate program was affected by a £140 million cost adjustment, after the company identified higher-than-expected rework and productivity issues during construction of the vessels.