British Type 31 Frigate Variant Offered To The U.S. Navy

Babcock is preparing to offer an Arrowhead 140 frigate variant for the US Navy's future frigate requirement, potentially with Huntington Ingalls Industries building the ships under license in America. The design underpins Britain's Type 31 program and has also been selected by Poland and Indonesia, providing an existing hull architecture with adaptable weapons, sensors and mission spaces. Preliminary discussions have taken place, with an expression of interest expected before the end of October and Navy assessments due November 12. No contract, American weapons configuration or final Babcock-HII industrial arrangement has been confirmed.