The keel has been laid for HMS Formidable, the third of five Type 31 frigates being built by Babcock International for the Royal Navy. The event involved placing a specially commissioned coin under the ship’s keel which will be presented to the captain and crew when the ship is ready to sail.

Managed by DE&S alongside Babcock and the Royal Navy, the Type 31 programme demonstrates the breadth of UK shipbuilding skills, innovation and capability whilst sustaining skilled employment including 2,500 skilled jobs across Scotland and the UK and creating 400 apprenticeships.

The Babcock workforce, including apprentices and production support operatives from the programme attended the event as well as guests from across DE&S, the Royal Navy, UK and International governments, industry and the wider supply chain and community.

The ceremony marks strong momentum for the programme, with HMS Venturer – the first ship – already floated off and undergoing final fit out. Meanwhile, the float off for HMS Active and the steel cutting ceremony for HMS Bulldog are both scheduled for the first half of 2026.
The Type 31 frigates will undertake missions including interception and disruption of illegal activity at sea, intelligence gathering, defence engagement and providing humanitarian support. Flexible and adaptable by design, the general-purpose frigates will help modernise the Royal Navy’s surface fleet.

Steve Ranyard, DE&S Type 31 Team Leader, said: “Today’s keel laying marks another key milestone towards the Royal Navy’s future capabilities. This demonstrates the excellent progress we’re making in delivering these versatile frigates. The Type 31 programme is not only strengthening our naval fleet but also driving growth and prosperity across the UK’s maritime sector.”

The programme supports ongoing contracts that form a key part of the government’s Plan for Change, safeguarding national security whilst providing skilled jobs across the UK.

Sir Nick Hine, Babcock’s Marine CEO said: “This celebration marks the delivery of another important milestone in this important UK defence programme. Our advanced design and build capability underpin the UK’s ability to deliver complex warships for our armed forces, supporting national and international security and providing industrial resilience.

“What you can see is the UK defence dividend in action, our workforce is delivering one of the most advanced defence programmes, that is driving economic growth and providing highly skilled jobs to our surrounding communities here in Scotland, putting Rosyth right at the heart of UK shipbuilding innovation and cutting-edge digital technology.”

The five Type 31 Inspiration Class frigates take their names from former warships and submarines whose missions and history inspire Royal Navy operations. HMS Formidable is named after the Second World War aircraft carrier which conducted carrier strike operations from Norway through the Mediterranean to the Pacific.

Commander Thomas Hetherington, Royal Navy, Senior Naval Officer – HMS Venturer and T31 Ships said: “HMS Formidable’s keel laying ceremony marks a significant milestone in the T31 Project’s relentless progress in delivering the Royal Navy’s Inspiration Class to operations.

“The ceremony blends the tradition of marking the birth of a ship with the undoubted technological advances that have been used in designing and building her for the extremely complex environment she will sail in. The third of five ships, HMS Formidable will help modernise the Royal Navy’s frigate fleet and enhance the lived experience for our sailors as they continue to deliver on operations across the globe.”

The Type 31 design has also attracted significant international export interest. Poland and Indonesia have both selected Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 design – the parent design for the Type 31 frigate – for its own frigate programmes, reinforcing the UK’s reputation as a global leader in naval design and creating opportunities for supply chain partners.