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Royal Navy chiefs may be forced to spend 'tens of millions of pounds' turning support vessels into temporary frigates amid timescale issues over Babcock's new £1.25billion shipbuilding deal, it's been claimed.

Industry insiders fear the defence giant won't have built the first of five new Type 31 frigates, worth £250million each, before the ageing Type 23s start retiring.

It's anticipated the first of the old general purpose vessels will bow out in 2023 - and top defence brass reckon it'll prove 'impossible' getting the first of the new generation sea ready before then.

A source told The News, Portsmouth: "I don’t think there’s a big ship manufacturer in the world that could deliver this in four years."

(Image: Babcock)

It's prompted speculation the Navy may spend tens of millions up-scaling a new batch of second generation River-class Offshore Patrol Vessels to meet the Government's desire to maintain a fleet of 19 frigates and destroyers before the Type 31s debut.

The OPVs could be beefed up with better weapons and sensors - though nothing has been confirmed and top brass fear there's little time left to come up with a Plan B.

Nor do there appear to have been any talks to extend the shelf life of the Type 23s.

(Image: Babcock)

Admiral Lord Alan West, former First Sea Lord, said: "I’m all for increasing the armament of the OPV, but it doesn’t make up for having more frigates.

"I can’t see anyway that they will be able to build the Type 31e in time before the first of the Type 23s is retired.

"That’s a real worry."

The Ministry of Defence insisted it was down to Babcock to propose build strategies that will meet the project’s deadline.

A spokesman said: "We have stated that we want the first Type 31 ship in the water by 2023."

The concerns come after Babcock - representing a consortium of key players under the umbrella name Arrowhead 400 - were announced as the winners of the lucrative contract to build the Type 31s - which will serve general purpose roles freeing up the new more advanced Type 26s to link up with fighting destroyers and the new Solent carriers around the globe.

Babcock fended off stiff competition from BAE Systems and a firm in Bournemouth to secure the Type 31 contract - which brings design work to Devonport before construction work takes place in Scotland.

The Type 26s - set to be worth a cool £8billion - are to be based in Plymouth and leaders are also hoping the Government will announce a deal to bring the 31s to Britain's Ocean City - despite rival port Portsmouth also leading attempts for them.

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Babcock chiefs told The News Type 31 work would begin immediately following formal contract award later this financial year, with 'detailed design work to start now and manufacture commencing in 2021 and concluding in 2027.'