Does the Type 31 program mark a break from slow and expensive recent Royal Navy shipbuilding?
Short answerNo; it is a simpler ship than Type 26, and much of a modern warship's construction time lies in integrating duplicated power, sensor, and data systems.
NotesThe comparison uses an expected six years between Type 31's first steel in 2021 and commissioning in 2027, against roughly ten years for Type 26 from 2017 to its anticipated 2027 entry into service. Type 31 is a simpler general-purpose frigate, while Type 26 is a larger and more complicated anti-submarine combatant. Both kinds of ship are needed, so their different schedules have to be judged against their different requirements. Hull steel is relatively quick to assemble. Cabling, electronics, sensors, and power systems take much of the integration effort, particularly when shielding, separation, and duplicated routes must preserve capability after damage.