When the Type 51 design was unveiled as the third generation NS destroyer (though frigate or medium combat ship at the time) the plan was to built sixty, in three batches of twenty. The first twenty was the Corkscrew 51A, the second batch is the upgraded Repulse 51B which began production in 2122 (though only one has been produced to date due to delays caused by the MBO war).
NS has said they have decided to not build the first batch (the Type 51C) which would have probably entered production by the end of the decade. It is expected that Black Triangle 126A may cause a reorganisation of the fleet and a reduction in the need for traditional destroyer type ships. However, NS said that all twenty Repulse will be built and production may be extended if needs be.
Work on the Type 51C will be rolled into future upgrades of the Corkscrew and Repulse. NS do have the problem that by the 2130s the Isometric family ships will be reaching the ends of their lives and a future destroyer type will be needed to replace a large number of ships. There is no word yet as to what will replace these ships (starting with the Isometric itself, then the Mediterranean Sea, Proxima Centauri and finally the Freedom fleets).
