Three shipbuilding teams have been awarded multi-million-pound contracts to push ahead with plans to build five new Type 31e warships in the UK for the Royal Navy.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has revealed that teams led by BAE Systems, Babcock, and Atlas Elektronik UK have been shortlisted for the competition to build five frigates for £1.25 billion (US$1.56 billion).
Each group has been awarded a contract worth up to £5 million (US$6.26 million) to fund the next stage of their plans, with the preferred bidder for the design and manufacture of the ships due to be announced by the end of next year.
The MoD wants the first ship delivered in 2023.
