WASHINGTON — British defence company Babcock has offered its Arrowhead 140 frigate design to the U.S. Navy as a potential alternative to, or option alongside, the existing FF(X) programme. According to The Telegraph and Navy Lookout, Babcock plans to submit a joint proposal with Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), using technology transfer and intellectual property licensing to enable construction at an American shipyard. An expression of interest is expected before the end of October 2026, and initial discussions with Pentagon officials have reportedly taken place.
Sir Nick Hine, head of Babcock’s marine business and a former Second Sea Lord, has supported entering the U.S. frigate market. Speaking to The Telegraph, he said, “We have a world class frigate, close links to the US and US industry. It would be insane for us not to respond.”
Arrowhead 140 Design and Capabilities
The Arrowhead 140 is the export design underpinning the Royal Navy’s Type 31 Inspiration-class frigates and is derived from Denmark’s Iver Huitfeldt-class design. The vessel measures approximately 138.7 metres in length, has a beam of 19.8 metres and displaces around 5,700 tonnes.
Designed as a general-purpose frigate, it can support escort duties, independent operations, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, maritime security and intelligence gathering. Its open architecture allows weapons, sensors and other mission systems to be adapted to different customer requirements.
Five Type 31 frigates are under construction at Babcock’s Rosyth shipyard in Scotland. The Arrowhead 140 design has also been selected by Poland for its Miecznik programme, also referred to as Project 106, and by Indonesia for its Merah Putih (Red White) frigate programme. Additional design licences have also been agreed for Indonesia.
Babcock and HII Partnership
The proposed arrangement presents an unusual situation because HII already builds the existing FF(X), which is derived from the Legend-class Coast Guard cutters. HII also constructs those cutters. Under the proposed partnership, the company could support both the current FF(X) design and the Arrowhead 140 alternative.
Babcock does not own a U.S. shipyard, making design licensing and engineering support a practical route into the American programme.
The two companies already cooperate in naval manufacturing. In December 2025, Babcock secured a contract to supply HII with complex components for Virginia-class Block VI nuclear-powered submarines.
They are also working on the ARMOR Force concept, under which a Type 31 frigate would act as a command vessel for large uncrewed surface vessels from HII’s Romulus family. This relationship provides a foundation for further cooperation but does not guarantee the selection of Arrowhead 140.
U.S. Navy Reviews Foreign Alternatives
Rear Adm. Casey Moton has confirmed that the Pentagon, the Navy and outside specialists are conducting a 90-day review of foreign frigate designs, expected to conclude by mid-November 2026.
Other reported candidates include Japan’s modified Mogami-class, South Korea’s Chungnam-class and Turkey’s İstanbul-class frigates. Fincantieri Marine Group has also expressed interest in offering its FREMM Evo design.
The review follows an August 13, 2026, presidential memorandum that used a national security waiver to open U.S. Navy procurement to allied ship designs and, in limited cases, overseas construction.
Existing FF(X) Programme Continues
The U.S. Navy continues to advance its existing FF(X) programme while evaluating alternatives. In late September 2026, Moton confirmed that the first-flight FF(X) design had completed its critical design review. Funding for long-lead materials was awarded earlier in 2026.
The lead ship remains scheduled for delivery by the end of June 2030. The FF(X) programme followed the reduction of the earlier Constellation-class effort.
No final selection, formal contract or construction site has been confirmed for the proposed Arrowhead 140 arrangement. The Navy’s review continues alongside development of the existing FF(X) programme.
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