Aiming to advance the modernization of the National Squadron and strengthen its naval industry, the Chilean Navy is emerging as a potential strategic partner for the United Kingdom, which seeks to position its Type 31 frigates as the future backbone of the Chilean fleet. These units, conceived as next-generation multipurpose vessels by Babcock International, combine modularity, efficiency, and reduced costs, making them a highly attractive option for Chile within its naval renewal plan. For the United Kingdom, a potential partnership with ASMAR would reinforce the South American country’s role as a regional benchmark in shipbuilding and consolidate the international expansion of the Arrowhead 140 program.
Presentación de las Fragatas Tipo 31 ante autoridades de Chile
During 2023, Chile’s then-Minister of Defense, Maya Fernández, held meetings in London with her British counterpart, Ben Wallace, and with the Minister for Defence Procurement, Alex Chalk, addressing cooperation in shipbuilding, cyber defense, and technology transfer. In that context, the United Kingdom expressed its interest in exploring the possibility of Chile adopting the Type 31 design, offering technical assistance and knowledge transfer. This proposal aligns with the British strategy of expanding the international presence of its frigates, while Chile seeks to incorporate new-generation ships and strengthen its industrial capabilities through ASMAR (Astilleros y Maestranzas de la Armada).
The consolidation of ASMAR as the core of the Continuous National Shipbuilding Plan reflects Chile’s commitment to developing its own capabilities. In recent years, the shipyard has led major projects such as the OPV-80 ocean patrol vessels, the modernization of Type 23 frigates, the construction of the Polar Ship “Almirante Viel,” and the start of the second multipurpose vessel Escotillón IV. This sustained industrial progress reinforces the feasibility that Chile could soon undertake the local construction of new-generation frigates under license, following the model adopted by other countries with the British Arrowhead 140 design.
The United Kingdom, meanwhile, continues consolidating its Type 31 program, intended to equip the Royal Navy with five frigates of the Inspiration class. The first of these, HMS Venturer, recently reached a significant milestone with the installation of its integrated mast, which houses the main radar, electronic warfare systems, and optical sensors. With a length of 139 meters and a displacement of around 5,700 tons, the Type 31 frigates represent a flexible, cost-optimized platform designed for air defense, surface warfare, and NATO international operations.
Driven by their adaptability, the Arrowhead 140 has already been selected by Poland and Indonesia for their national programs. In Poland, the Miecznik project is progressing with the construction of three frigates under license from Babcock, with an option for five additional units, while in Indonesia the state-owned PT PAL is building two “Red White” frigates based on the same design. In both cases, the British model has demonstrated its flexibility to adapt to local requirements, combining technology transfer with national construction.
The program’s success has also drawn the interest of Denmark, whose Iver Huitfeldt design served as the basis for the Type 31. Copenhagen is currently negotiating with London the acquisition of three new frigates to replace its current units, completing a symbolic cycle: a Danish-origin design, refined by the United Kingdom and adopted by several navies worldwide, consolidating the Arrowhead 140 as a global reference platform.
In this context, the option for Chile to incorporate Type 31 frigates as replacements for its Type 22 and Type 23 appears as a natural step within its modernization process. Beyond the technological leap, the project would offer a strategic opportunity to deepen cooperation with the United Kingdom and strengthen the autonomy of the national naval industry. Its implementation would complete a development cycle that began with the construction of the OPV-80s, continued with the Polar Ship “Almirante Viel” and the multipurpose Escotillón IV vessels, marking a turning point: moving from modernizing imported ships to building Chile’s own combat frigates, projecting the Navy as a modern and regionally self-sufficient force.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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