BAE Systems rolls out bow for first Type 26 frigate
BAE Systems has completed the bow of the future HMS Glasgow, the first City-class Type 26 frigate for the UK RN.
The bow was rolled into position at the BAE Systems yard in Govan, where it will be joined to the aft section soon.
HMS Glasgow is expected to begin sea trials by 2025 as the first in a new generation of frigates for the RN.
A £3.7 billion ($5.17 million) contract to manufacture the first batch of three Type 26 frigates was awarded in July 2017, and Shephard Defence Insight estimates the total cost for eight ships at £8 billion.
Type 26 is designed for a wide variety of ASW and other operations, in particular protection of the UK RN continuous at-sea deterrent and Carrier Strike Group.
A total of eight ships will replace Type 23 frigates in RN service. Each new vessel will be equipped with the
Sea Ceptor missile defence system, a 5-inch medium-calibre gun, flexible mission bay, Artisan 997 medium-range radar and towed array sonars.
The flight deck will accommodate helicopters up to the size of a Chinook and the mission bay can be used to house and deploy vessels, vehicles and containers.
The Type 26 build programme aligns with the UK National Shipbuilding Strategy, which supports increased production of commercial and naval vessels, including the development of the City class.
.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Kongsberg contracted for Dutch and Belgian frigate propellers and drive shafts
In July 2023, Damen and Thales signed contracts to design, build and deliver four new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates for Belgium and the Netherlands.
-
Leonardo fires up small calibre naval gun development as Italy nears first Lionfish X-Gun handover
Alongside progress on its Lionfish contracts, Leonardo emphasised its shift in focus from traditional larger calibre systems toward smaller calibre solutions, epitomised by the X-Gun’s inception in 2017.
-
SEA to trial sonar software for UK Royal Navy
The UK Royal Navy’s anti-submarine warfare Spearhead programme, run by the service’s Develop Directorate, has been investigating future and existing technologies with a particular focus on the USV arena.
-
Australia’s new frigate options: No easy choices as pressure mounts on DoD
A new class of General Purpose ‘Tier 2’ frigate will replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Anzac-class frigates, but the selected design options appear to have major issues in terms of compatibility and availability for the future fleet.