Babcock has announced that it has signed a £65 million contract to implement the CIP (Capability Insertion Period) upgrade program on five of the Royal Navy’s Type-31 frigates under construction. The CIP program will add critical capabilities to the ships and includes the testing and implementation of capability upgrades to the Type-31s. As Babcock’s announcement states, the CIP program will enhance the ships’ combat capabilities, beyond those originally envisaged in the original design. Although the announcement does not state exactly what the CIP program includes, it is likely to include the installation of Mk.41 VLS vertical launchers. As announced in February 2024, the integration of the Mk.41 VLS into the Type-31s will take place at a later date, after the ships are delivered, in order not to disrupt the delivery schedule. The decision to integrate the Mk.41 VLS was announced in May 2023, when the first ship (HMS “Venturer”) had already begun construction and the design of the ships had been completed.
The Royal Navy spokesman stated at the time that after the decision, the Royal Navy began a relevant evaluation process, in collaboration with the US Navy, in order to find the most appropriate and economical way to integrate the Mk.41 VLS into the Type-31. Perhaps the CIP program concerns the installation of the Mk.41 VLS. According to the current schedule, all five Type-31 frigates should have been delivered to the Royal Navy in 2028. The armament of the Type-31 consists of a 57 mm main gun (it can also accept a 127 mm gun). It also integrates two 40 mm guns. In total, it integrates eight NSM anti-ship missiles and a Mk.41 VLS vertical launch system with 32 positions for long- and short-range anti-aircraft missiles (Sea Ceptor). In the British configuration, the ships will also be able to carry BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles and RUM-139 VL-ASROC anti-submarine rockets.
