Babcock in talks with five countries over Type 31 frigate sales
Defence giant Babcock is in talks with five other countries over selling them basic versions of the Royal Navy’s new Type 31 frigate.
Speaking to MPs today, the FTSE 100 firm’s chief executive David Lockwood confirmed that Greece, Indonesia and Poland were all potential customers.
He declined to name the other two countries, although Babcock did sign a deal with Ukraine last week to help the eastern European country develop its navy.
“We have five live export campaigns. Last week I was in Greece supported by the First Sea Lord and Minister for Defence Procurement”, he told the Defence Select Committee.
“The Greeks see us as a very serious contender, and another country is in negotiations.”
The Type 31 frigate, which costs around £250m for the basic version, is part of the government’s 2017 “National Shipbuilding Strategy”.
Babcock is currently building five such vessels for the Royal Navy. The Type 31 will replace some of the Type 23 general class of frigates currently in service.
But the vessel was also specifically designed with the intention of being easily exportable in order to boost the UK’s shipyards.
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