Rosyth wins £1.25bn deal to build five Royal Navy frigates
The contract secures hundreds of jobs at the yard in Fife.
Last updated 12th Sep 2019
Hundreds of jobs are being secured in Rosyth after engineering giant Babcock was named the preferred bidder to design and build a fleet of warships for the Royal Navy.
The deal, worth £1.25bn, will see five Type 31 frigates assembled in Fife and will involve supply chains throughout the UK.
Work is due to begin by the end of the year, the first ship is due to be in the water in 2023 and the whole project will last until 2027.
The ships are also described as 'exportable' so could lead to further orders from other countries.
More than 2,500 jobs across the UK are expected to be supported as a result of the Type 31 programme, including 150 jobs for new technical apprenticeships.
Archie Bethel, Babcock chief executive, 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 UK'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 war-fighting capabilities whilst offering communities and supply chains throughout the UK a wide range of economic and employment opportunities."
The average production cost is £250 million per ship