When Babcock International disclosed a £140 million charge on the Type 31 frigate programme in its FY26 trading update, it added another chapter to one of UK defence procurement’s most closely watched programmes – and raised questions that go well beyond one company’s balance sheet. The Type 31, or Arrowhead 140, was conceived as a different kind of warship programme. Designed to be affordable, exportable and delivered at pace, it was intended to demonstrate that the UK could build capable frigates at a competitive price point – breaking the cycle of cost overruns and delays that had characterised previous naval…
