TSAMTO, October 28. The British company Babcock is preparing to propose a project for the Arrowhead 140 multipurpose frigate, on the basis of which Type-31 ships are being built for the British Navy to meet the needs of the US Navy for new surface warships.
As The Telegraph reported on October 25, Nick Hine, the head of the company's naval department, confirmed his interest in participating in the American program.
Babcock representatives held preliminary meetings with representatives of the Pentagon. The Statement of Interest (EOI) is expected to be submitted by the end of October. As of October 26, the submission of a formal tender offer, the choice of a construction site and the conclusion of a contract have not been confirmed.
A possible partner of Babcock is the American Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). The cooperation scheme under consideration may provide for the transfer of design documentation and intellectual property rights for the construction of ships at US enterprises. The parameters of a possible joint offer were not disclosed by the company.
According to Navy Lookout, the American side needs a frigate capable of acting independently, securing convoys, performing anti-submarine warfare and defeating surface targets. Priority is given to the existing project, which allows for the construction of a series in a short time. Among other options being considered, the publication names the Japanese modernized Mogami project, the South Korean Chunnam and the Turkish Istanbul.
Consideration of foreign projects is related to the memorandum of the President of the United States dated August 13, 2026. The document provides for the possibility of building no more than two ships abroad, subject to the supplier's investment in American shipbuilding and the subsequent placement of mass production in the United States. An assessment of the options for the acquisition of surface warships is expected by November 12.
The Arrowhead 140 project is based on the Danish Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate. Its basic dimensions are 138.7 m long and 19.8 m wide, with a displacement of about 5,700 tons. The main power plant includes four MTU 20V 8000 diesel engines with power transmission to two propeller shafts. These characteristics relate to the basic design and do not determine the configuration of a possible ship for the US Navy.
One 57mm Bofors Mk artillery mount is provided for the British Type-31 frigates.3, two Bofors Mk.4 40mm launchers and the Sea Ceptor anti-aircraft missile system. The electronic equipment includes the NS110 radar station with an active phased array antenna and the Tacticos combat information and control system. The hangar is designed to accommodate a Wildcat or Merlin helicopter.
According to Army Recognition, at the moment, not a single British Type-31 frigate has been commissioned into combat. The basic British configuration does not include shipboard sonar equipment necessary for a long-term anti-submarine search. Equipping the American version with such systems will require determining their composition and integration into ship complexes.
Babcock is already using the licensed Arrowhead 140 implementation model in projects for Poland and Indonesia. According to Navy Lookout, a similar approach is being considered for the United States: an American shipyard is carrying out construction, and a British company is providing design and engineering support.
