Type 31 frigates emerge as potential Chilean Navy replacements for Type 23

Chile’s next generation of surface combatants

It is no secret that the Chilean Navy intends to have a new series of frigates, based on state-of-the-art surface-combat platforms, in service towards the end of this decade and the beginning of the next. Reflecting the development of the country’s naval shipbuilding capabilities, centred on ASMAR, these new warships are envisaged as locally built replacements for the current Type 23s, in partnership with overseas companies.

For this reason, and in light of Chile’s naval force-projection requirements, the United Kingdom has for several years been promoting the Type 31 frigate-also known as the Inspiration class-as the prospective successor to Chilean Type 23 frigates. The class is currently being built by Babcock in Scotland for the Royal Navy, with support from both the UK Government and the country’s defence-industrial sector.

HMS Active ceremony highlights the Type 31 programme

One of the latest signs of this interest came during the presentation of HMS Active, the second British frigate in an initial batch of five vessels. The event also reflected the current status of the programme equipping the Royal Navy, as well as the ongoing programmes undertaken by Poland with the Mieczni class and Indonesia with the Red White class.

During the ceremony, HMS Active emerged from the assembly facilities at Rosyth, Scotland, marking another construction milestone ahead of what will presumably be her launch. The occasion also symbolically marked the start of production on the fourth Royal Navy frigate, which will be named HMS Bulldog.

However, a video projected onto the workshops as part of the celebrations caught the audience’s attention. It displayed the flags of existing programme partners, or countries with ships currently under construction, alongside those of prospective future partners that could select the Type 31 to renew their surface fleets.

Type 31 frigates and Chile’s fleet-renewal plans

Chile’s flag was among those displayed, as was Denmark’s. Both navies are already planning replacements for their Type 23 and Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates respectively. The flags of Sweden, New Zealand and South Korea were also shown.

In Chile’s case, representatives from the Ministry of Defence, naval authorities and industry have held various meetings and exchanges with representatives of the UK Government and companies involved in the Arrowhead Programme.

Although no official decision has been made, it is not unreasonable to consider the Type 31 as a natural replacement for the Type 23 frigates currently operated by the Chilean Navy, which were acquired from the Royal Navy years ago. This is particularly significant because Chile’s naval industry is showing an increasing degree of maturity in building ever more complex military vessels, including the recently commissioned icebreaker Almirante Viel. It will be joined by the four multipurpose ships of Project Escotillón IV.

Regardless of Chile’s eventual choice, the country will almost certainly build the next generation of combat vessels that will protect sovereignty along its extensive coastline itself, in keeping with its national motto: “By reason or by force.”