UK, Denmark to cooperate on introducing Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates into service

The Royal Navies of Britain and Denmark have agreed to work side-by-side to bring the UK’s next generation of warships into service.

The two allies have agreed to work even closer together to maximise the construction, training, and finally, operational opportunities of the Type 31 frigate. The Royal Navy has ordered five of the ships to replace the veteran Type 23 frigates that perform general patrol duties around the world.

The design of the Type 31s, also known as the Inspiration class, is based on the Royal Danish Navy’s Iver Huitfeldt-class, which have been in operation since 2012.

The two NATO navies have signed the Type 31 Implementing Agreement, which will:

• Assist the two nations’ shipbuilding industries to deliver value for money capability on time to protect against evolving threats
• Support the introduction of the Type 31s into Royal Navy service
• Jointly develop doctrine and seize opportunities to test that doctrine in joint training, exercises, and operations
• Develop and transform support policy for both classes of shop
• Develop collaborative operational tasking involving Type 31s and Iver Huitfeldt-class vessels
• Contribute to the long-term future of the Danish and United Kingdom defence industries