British engineering firm Babcock has set its sights on the United States Navy, targeting a gap in American surface fleet procurement with its Arrowhead 140 design, known in the Royal Navy as the Type 31 frigate, as executive talks have taken place at the Pentagon, pushing the UK into an international contest that includes Japanese, South Korean, and Turkish shipbuilders.
The push comes as the U.S. Navy navigates a turbulent period for mid-sized combatants. The littoral combat ship program faced early retirements, and the domestic Constellation-class initiative hit severe delays before being effectively cut back. To bridge the operational gap, Huntington Ingalls Industries has pursued a simpler design based on the U.S. Coast Guard’s Legend-class cutter, though that platform lacks vertical launch systems and limits deep combat capabilities.
While Korean contenders lean on local investments like Philly Shipyard, Babcock is plotting a different industrial approach.
Transatlantic Production Strategy and Existing Partnerships
Rather than acquiring an American shipyard outright, Babcock plans to rely on technical transfers. The company intends to partner with Huntington Ingalls Industries, leveraging an existing relationship built on supplying components for U.S. Virginia-class attack submarines and Columbia-class strategic nuclear subs. Under this framework, American workers would construct the warships domestically using Babcock’s design blueprint.
British Type 31 Frigate Variant Offered To The U.S. NavyBabcock is looking to pitch its Arrowhead 140 design for an American frigate requirement, potentially in partnership with a major U.S. shipbuilder.https://t.co/23DX1jab3Y
Sir Nick Haine, maritime chief at Babcock and a former Second Sea Lord, told observers that ignoring the U.S. initiative would be unwise given the company’s close industrial ties. High-level discussions have progressed over recent months, with an official expression of interest due before the end of the month as the proposal remains in its initial phase.
Weighing the Type 31 Against Global Rivals
At home, Babcock’s Rosyth facility is constructing five Type 31 frigates for the Royal Navy. The lead ship, HMS Venturer, cut steel in September 2021 and touched water in June 2025, with formal delivery anticipated no earlier than 2029. Alongside the higher-end Type 26, these vessels form Britain’s future surface fleet strategy, while export variants have already secured orders for Indonesia’s Arrowhead-derived frigates and Poland’s Swordfish program.
Yet, the British bid faces stiff competition. Rivals from Japan, South Korea, and Turkey already boast vessels that have reached active service, giving them a tangible head start over the Type 31, which has yet to enter operational service with the Royal Navy. At the same time, Babcock must navigate the risk of stringent U.S. requirements that previously derailed domestic ship designs, while standing up entirely new domestic supply chains if the transatlantic transfer moves forward.
