In the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report 2023-2024, published by the British government on January 17, the Royal Navy’s Type 26 and Type 31 frigate programs are on schedule but there are significant issues that need to be addressed. The report says that these significant issues, which it does not name, “can be resolved at present and, if addressed appropriately, will not lead to an increase in cost and time delay in the implementation of the programs.” The first Type 26 frigate (HMS “Glasgow”) is under construction and is expected to be delivered in 2028, while the fifth ship of the type began construction last November. The first Type 31 frigate (HMS “Venturer”) is under construction, the third ship of the type began construction last October. According to the current schedule, the Royal Navy will receive eight Type-26s in the period 2028-2035, at a rate of one ship per year, and five Type-31s in the period 2027-2031, again at a rate of one ship per year. At the same time, the Type-23 frigates will be retired, at a rate of one ship per year, until 2035, when the last ship will be retired.
