BAE concept for the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate. Credit: MatthewTarbard.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has relaunched a tender for the development of the Type 31e frigate or General Purpose Frigate for the Royal Navy.

The MoD has confirmed that it has issued a prior information notice for the construction of the new Type 31e fleet.

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Over the coming weeks, the department intends to begin discussions with the country’s defence industry in order to ensure the efficient execution of the project.

“According to the defence department, the five new ships will be put into service with the navy to replace the existing fleet of five Type 23 vessels.”

The plan to resume the development programme follows the UK MoD’s previous decision to suspend plans to acquire the proposed low-cost Type 31e frigate for the navy.

The Times reported last month that the UK Government’s aim to procure a ‘budget frigate’ over a period of five years was put on hold due to lack of sufficient funding.

The MoD has now confirmed that the plans to buy the first batch of at least five new Type 31e vessels remains unchanged.

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According to the defence department, the five new ships will be put into service with the navy to replace the existing fleet of five Type 23 vessels.

The first vessel of the planned Type 31e frigates is expected to be in service with the UK Navy by 2023.