In a first for the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate programme, steel has been cut on HMS Bulldog and HMS Active has emerged from the build hall in a same-day ceremony.

Designed to deter aggression and maintain the security of the UK’s interests, the Type 31 frigates will deliver a warship presence across the globe.

The cutting of steel for HMS Bulldog marks the start of construction on the fourth of the five Inspiration-class frigates. The event was attended by Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, as well as MOD, Navy and industry colleagues.

Later in the evening, lit up against the night sky, HMS Active – the second vessel in the class – rolled out of the purpose-built Venturer Building Assembly Hall onto a hardstand, complete with a bespoke laser show for the Rosyth crowd, marking her transition from construction to fitting out phase.

Sustaining 2,500 highly skilled jobs, with 1,250 directly employed at Babcock in Rosyth and a further 1,250 across the UK supply chain, the programme delivers on the government’s Plan for Change, supporting economic growth through Defence investment while strengthening national security.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP, said: 

“These milestones show Scottish shipbuilding at its best. From starting construction for HMS Bulldog to rolling out the impressive HMS Active, this programme is delivering world-class warships for the Royal Navy and real economic benefits for communities across Scotland and the wider UK.

The frigates will serve our nation for decades to come, and the skills and infrastructure we’re building here will secure the future of Scottish shipbuilding for generations.”

The programme continues to progress with the first ship, HMS Venturer, having celebrated her float out of the assembly hall in mid-2025. Most recently, the keel of HMS Formidable was laid in a ceremony at the end of last year. All five ships are scheduled to be in service by the early 2030s.

Steve Ranyard, DE&S Type 31 Team Leader, said:

“We’re pleased to reach this point in the programme as we deliver this next generation of frigates for the Royal Navy. These are two major milestones that the entire programme team can take pride in celebrating. This reflects the excellent collaboration between Babcock, DE&S and the Royal Navy.”

The five versatile frigates will form a key element of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet, undertaking missions including interception, intelligence gathering, defence engagement and humanitarian support. 

Commodore Stephen Roberts, T31 Programme Senior Responsible Owner (SRO), Royal Navy, said:

“Seeing both HMS Bulldog start the construction journey and HMS Active roll out is a tangible representation of the success of the programme, all thanks to the hard work put in by the Babcock, DE&S and Royal Navy teams. These advanced warships will provide the Royal Navy with a maritime security capability to deter aggression and protect our nation’s interests, in home waters and across the globe, well into the future.”

The Arrowhead 140 design, on which Type 31 is based, has secured international export success with sales to Poland and Indonesia. This demonstrates how British design excellence creates exportable intellectual property whilst strengthening partnerships with allies.

David Lockwood, CEO, Babcock, added:

“Delivering the steel cut for HMS Bulldog and the roll-out of HMS Active on the same day is a powerful demonstration of the drive and delivery focus of our Type 31 programme as we build the next modern, future-ready fleet for the Royal Navy. These milestones show the maturity of our facility, the success of the design and build process, and the skill and dedication of our Babcock team.”