Babcock Team 31 has completed a Whole Ship Preliminary Design Review (WSPDR) for the Type 31 vessel, a planned class of frigate for the British Royal Navy.

The review marks the completion of the engineering functional design phase and offers insights about compliance, maturity and engineering risks in proceeding into the detailed design phase.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The WSPDR was carried out virtually over a period of ten days by an independent board to review the design and quiz the engineering team. Contributors from the British Ministry of Defence also attended the event.

According to the company, the board expressed satisfaction with the progress and technical maturity of the design.

Babcock Type 31 Programme Director Graeme Thomson said: “Completing the Whole Ship PDR is a key milestone for the Type 31 programme and signals our move into detailed design.

“I’d like to thank all involved, a lot of hard work went into achieving this positive outcome. I look forward to the next stage in this exciting and challenging programme.”

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) contracted Babcock to deliver five Type 31 frigates.

Type 31 will be used to prevent aggression and maintain the UK’s security interests.

Babcock noted that the Type 31 programme continues at pace. It includes equipping the Rosyth facility with additional advanced manufacturing capabilities. A new assembly hall is also being constructed at the facility to accommodate two Type 31 frigates.

Naval Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Naval Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Virtualitics has secured the Innovation and Business Expansion awards for its Integrated Readiness Optimization (IRO) suite. Discover how its explainable AI is transforming maintenance, sustainment and mission readiness, giving defence leaders faster, clearer, and more confident operational decisions.

Discover the Impact