Driven by the renewed prominence that the Type 31 frigates have brought to its naval industry, the United Kingdom is advancing negotiations to equip the Royal Danish Navy with three new vessels of this class. The program, led by Babcock International from the Rosyth shipyard, has consolidated itself as one of the most successful bets of British shipbuilding—not only for its contribution to the Royal Navy, but also for the growing export opportunities it has generated with European and overseas partners.
The future Danish frigates would be intended to gradually replace the current Iver Huitfeldt-class, in service since 2012–2013. These platforms, conceived under a modular approach, have faced serious integration limitations in their combat systems, particularly with the APAR radar. This led the Danish Ministry of Defence to conclude that modernization would be uneconomical. Thus, transitioning to the Type 31 emerges as a natural solution to maintain the fleet’s air defense capability.
The Type 31 design builds on Denmark’s own experience with the Iver Huitfeldt class, but incorporates substantial improvements in survivability, flexibility, and adaptability to different weapons systems. With this, Copenhagen would gain access to a proven and scalable ship, capable of meeting the demands of an increasingly challenging strategic environment in the North Sea and the Baltic.
Danish interest adds to the international success already achieved by Babcock, which exported the Type 31 to Poland and Indonesia through licensing agreements for local construction. In contrast, negotiations with Denmark foresee the first units being assembled directly in Rosyth, with the possibility of future frigates being produced in Danish shipyards—replicating the model of industrial cooperation applied in other countries.
Currently, the British program calls for five Type 31 frigates for the Royal Navy, with HMS Venturer already in an advanced stage of construction, having recently had its new integrated mast installed. With a unit cost of around £250 million, these ships stand out for being more affordable and faster to build than the sophisticated Type 26, while still maintaining an adequate level of combat capabilities. This combination of price, adaptability, and speed has turned the project into an attractive export model.
At the strategic level, the incorporation of Type 31s into the Danish Navy would strengthen NATO interoperability, facilitating joint training, logistical support, and coordinated naval operations in scenarios where allied cohesion is essential. The presence of ships with a common design would reinforce the Alliance’s response capacity against the Russian threat in the Arctic and the Baltic.
Beyond the military benefit, the potential Danish order would consolidate the revitalization of British shipbuilding. For Rosyth, it would mean expanding its workload and creating new jobs in a sector that, after decades of decline, has managed to reposition itself as a reference exporter in Europe. With Poland, Indonesia, and now Denmark within the Type 31’s orbit, the United Kingdom is moving closer to its ambitious goal of producing 31 units of this class by 2031, confirming the return of its naval industry to the global stage.
Images for illustrative purposes only.
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