Defence giant Babcock is on the cusp of clinching a lucrative contract to build a new generation of Royal Navy Type 31e frigates, according to industry sources.

The Devonport Dockyard operator is leading a consortium of key players under the umbrella name Arrowhead 400 on behalf of the £1.25billion deal.

 

The future Ministry of Defence “budget frigates" will serve routine maritime missions close to UK shores - freeing up the more advanced Type 26 fleet to link up with the mighty carriers on complex maritime missions overseas.

If Babcock's bid gets Whitehall approval - which defence insiders believe is almost certainly the case - then building work will be assigned to Scottish yards.

But intricate and specialist design work required ahead of construction will be awarded to Plymouth - in another major boost for future work at Devonport.

Welcoming the news, Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP Luke Pollard said: "If true, this could be a big boost for Devonport as we would get some of the design jobs.

"I’ve been pushing for a swift decision on Type 31e procurement from Ministers.

"Now we need them based in Devonport too."

Plymouth, Portsmouth and a firm in Dorset were given a £5.1million pot of money to draw up designs for the new Type 31s.

A major announcement about the Type 31e schedule is expected to be made at next month's Defence & Security Equipment Show in London.

But insiders are quietly confident Babcock has snapped up the programme.

Plymouth continues to push to be the future home of the new Type 31e fleet after the Government announced all of the Type 26s would be base-ported in the South West.

It followed a huge campaign fought by city leaders; including but not limited to Mr Pollard, Plymouth Moor View MP Johnny Mercer and Labour city council boss, Councillor Tudor Evans.

The more advanced Type 26s will replace the navy's ageing Type 23 portfolio, as reported by Plymouth Live.

They're still set to be homed in Plymouth despite a cheeky political drive in the Solent to rally ministers in its favour.

Rumbling on in the background is the UK's efforts to win the construction contract for three new support ships that will work in harmony with HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

It comes after the UK traded two old support warriors, RFA Black Rover and sister vessel RFA Gold Rover, for Turkish scrap for a cool £1.5million.