Sorry where did you get the 2034 figure from. In the original naval ship building plan 2034 was the delivery date for the last of 9 frigates based on a 24month drum beat. The plan needs an update due to delays caused in setting the design and COVID19. The programme is currently 2 years behind the 'anticipated start date' set in 2017.I think it's worth noting the RN's Type 31 / AH140 timeline:
Nov 2019 - Contract Awarded / Signed
Sep 2021 - First Steel Cut
2028 - All Five frigates planned to have been delivered.
Under nine years from contract award to delivery of all five frigates.
With all five planned to be fully commissioned by 2030.
Roughly speaking, utilising this timeline, if a hypothetical contract was awarded in late 2023 and steel cut in late 2025,
we'd have five frigates delivered by 2032 and fully commissioned by 2034.
That's the same year (2034) that the first Hunter Class Frigate is due to reach IOC.
NavalShipbuildingPlan_1.pdf
The DoD page has acceptance of the first frigate in the 'late 2020s'. This will be post first of class trials. The DoD page (which has not been updated in 12 months) had prototyping to commence December 2020 which was achieved. This work is to 'key in' the digital shipyard. The finalisation of design is the current hold up.
Hunter Class Frigate | Department of Defence
The other thing is the yard does not build one vessel at a time but is structured as a production line. While the first vessel is undergoing trials and acceptance the the other vessels will be in build and I understand the drum beat and be reduced. This is important as the overall plan has the DDG replacement following the Hunter Class and that is based on when they were completed.