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3w ago

HMS Active Rolls Out as Steel Is Cut for HMS Bulldog, Marking Dual Type 31 Milestones

The back-to-back events signal Rosyth’s modular frigate factory hitting a steady production rhythm.

HMS Bulldog
The UK Royal Navy’s second Type 31 Inspiration-class general-purpose frigate, the future HMS Active, was rolled out at Babcock’s Rosyth shipyard on 24 February. Credit: Babcock
Image
HMS Active rolls out of the Venturer Building at Babcock’s Rosyth shipyard, 24 February 2026. Credit: Author.

Overview

  • On 24 February at Rosyth, Babcock rolled out the second Type 31 frigate HMS Active for final outfitting and launch preparations and began construction of the fourth ship HMS Bulldog with a steel-cutting ceremony.
  • Babcock and Royal Navy leaders report that lessons from earlier hulls and greater pre-outfitting are reducing integration time and accelerating assembly inside the Venturer Building.
  • The five-ship Inspiration-class continues to advance, with lead ship HMS Venturer rolled out and afloat in 2025 and HMS Formidable’s keel laid in December 2025.
  • Based on the Arrowhead 140 design, the programme supports licensed builds in Poland and Indonesia and sustains about 1,250 jobs in Type 31 and 1,250 across the UK supply chain with more than 400 apprenticeships.
  • Babcock says it remains on course to deliver all five ships within 10 years of the 2019 award, while some final capability fit-outs await decisions linked to the Defence Investment Plan and the Capability Insertion Period.