The UK Ministry of Defence has abandoned a competition to secure a through-life support solution for the Royal Navy's five Type 31 frigates, according to a contract notice published on 22 July 2026.
The Type 31 Through Life Support procurement, advertised in November 2023, is being cancelled.
>>> Sean Astin Says Lord of the Rings Salary Forced Him to Sell His House
The notice states that the assumptions behind the competition no longer hold due to changes in programme context, commercial practicality, and enterprise support planning.
Continuing the requirement is not judged to be in the contracting authority's best interests, and further activity is cancelled.
The support requirement was intended to cover at least eight years, with two additional one-year extension options, for management and through-life support services.
Background on the Type 31 Programme
The Type 31 frigates are being built by Babcock International at Rosyth in Scotland under a 2019 contract.
>>> Two Women Die in Diving Incident at Loch Fyne in Scotland
The design is based on the Arrowhead 140, derived from the Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate operated by the Royal Danish Navy.
Lead ship HMS Venturer was floated off in 2023, while Active, Formidable, Bulldog, and Campbeltown are at various stages of construction.
The class is intended to replace five general-purpose Type 23 frigates that have been in service since the early 1990s.
The vessels are described as flexible and adaptable for missions including interception of unlawful maritime activity, intelligence collection, defence engagement, and humanitarian assistance.
>>> UNC Places Football GM Michael Lombardi on Paid Administrative Leave
With the competition cancelled, the notice leaves open how sustainment for the class will be arranged, indicating an updated approach to enterprise support planning since the requirement was first advertised over two and a half years ago.
