Engineering giant Babcock International Group Plc has been chosen as the preferred bidder for a £1.3billion contract to build a new fleet of Royal Navy frigates.
The five ships will be assembled at the defence company’s Rosyth Dockyard in Fife, Scotland, but will involve supply chains throughout the nation in line with the 海角视频's shipbuilding strategy.
More than 2,500 jobs across the 海角视频 are expected to be supported as a result of the Type 31 general-purpose frigates programme, including 150 jobs for new technical apprenticeships.
Following the comprehensive competitive process, the 海角视频 Government selected a consortium led by Babcock to make Arrowhead 140, a capable, adaptable and technology-enabled global frigate.
The firm said work on the fleet will begin immediately once the formal contract is awarded later this financial year, with detailed design work first and manufacture starting in 2021.
The Government has committed to buying at least five of the low-cost warships for the Royal Navy, with the first vessel expected to be in the water by 2023. Manufacture will conclude in 2027.
The vessels will be fitted with the world-leading Sea Ceptor missile system, a range of highly advanced weapon and sensor systems and a combat system with a 4D air and surface surveillance and target indication radar.
They will also have capabilities to operate with a Merlin or Wildcat helicopter.
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The average production cost is £250million per ship and the Ministry of Defence aims to award the contract by the end of the year.
Archie Bethel, chief executive of Babcock, said: "Driven by innovation and backed by experience and heritage, Arrowhead 140 is a modern warship that will meet the maritime threats of today and tomorrow, with British ingenuity and engineering at its core.
“It provides a flexible, adaptable platform that delivers value for money and supports the 海角视频's National Shipbuilding Strategy.
"Arrowhead 140 will offer the Royal Navy a new class of ship with a proven ability to deliver a range of peacekeeping, humanitarian and warfighting capabilities whilst offering communities and supply chains throughout the 海角视频 a wide range of economic and employment opportunities."
Babcock Team 31 is led by the aerospace and defence giant, but involves another leading defence supplier, Thales, and also defence firms BMT, Harland & Wolff and Ferguson Marine.
In the new partnership Babcock, which also operates Plymouth’s Devonport dockyard, will act as the overall programme lead, whilst Thales will have overall responsibility for the development of the Mission System solution.
Babcock and BMT, which also has a base in Plymouth, will use their experience in the development of designs for naval and commercial vessels.
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In 2018 Babcock said its facilities in Plymouth would have a key role to play, and that a “highly experienced team” will seek to deliver capable, cost-effective and flexible ships to the Royal Navy and, use the team’s “considerable international reach” to maximise export opportunities.
Babcock said it aims to build on the success of its role within the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, which delivered HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier.
The work would be shared out at Ferguson Marine on the Clyde and Harland and Wolff in Belfast, while much of the equipment provided by Thales and others will support jobs across the 海角视频.
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The 海角视频’s National Shipbuilding Strategy has ushered in a new era for naval procurement in the 海角视频.
Building on key lessons from the success of the Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier programme and the Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Irish Naval Service, the Strategy seeks to maximise 海角视频 content, export potential and the cost and programme benefits of a modular build using the breadth of skills and facilities available across the 海角视频.
Babcock said Team 31’s modular build approach will make best use of the 海角视频 facilities, innovation and skills to deliver a “cutting-edge platform” that combines capability with value-for-money and advanced technology to afford “class-leading levels of availability and operating costs”.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit a ship on the Thames on Thursday.
Speaking ahead of the visit he said: "The 海角视频 is an outward-looking island nation and we need a shipbuilding industry and Royal Navy that reflect the importance of the seas to our security and prosperity.
"This is an industry with a deep and visceral connection to so many parts of the 海角视频 and to the union itself.
"My Government will do all it can to develop this aspect of our heritage and the men and women who make up its workforce - from apprentices embarking on a long career to those families who have worked in shipyards for generations."
He added: "I look forward to the restoration of British influence and excellence across the world's oceans.
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"I am convinced that by working together we will see a renaissance in this industry which is so much part of our island story - so let's bring shipbuilding home."
The PM has appointed Defence Secretary Ben Wallace as the Government's new shipbuilding tsar to enhance the 海角视频's production.
He will look at how the Government can use further education, skilled apprenticeships and graduates to achieve a sustainable skills base for British shipbuilding across the 海角视频.
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Mr Wallace said: "These mighty ships will form the next generation of the Royal Navy fleet.
"The Type 31 frigates will be a fast, agile and versatile warship, projecting power and influence across the globe.
"The ships will be vital to the Royal Navy's mission to keeping peace, providing life-saving humanitarian aid and safeguarding the economy across the world from the North Atlantic, to the Gulf, and in the Asia Pacific."