UK warship HMS Cardiff begins float-off process
HMS Cardiff leaving for its float-off procedure. (Photo: BAE Systems)
The new Type 26 City-class frigate has been introduced to the water prior to further fitting.
HMS Cardiff, the second of eight Type 26 City Class frigates BAE Systems is building for the UK’s Royal Navy, has entered the water for the first time.
It was moved from a slipway in Glasgow’s Govan shipyard and towed to a deep-water location in the West of Scotland. Once it has been acclimatised to the water over a number of hours, the frigate will be taken to BAE Systems’ Scotstoun shipyard where it will be further outfitted before it moves to the testing and commissioning stages.
The float-off process has been described by BAE Systems as a more modern, efficient and low-risk way for a ship to enter the water, compared to the previous dynamic launches where ships were slid down a slipway into the water. The float-off process was used for the first-of-class, HMS Glasgow, in November 2022 as well as five Offshore Patrol Vessels, also built by BAE Systems in Glasgow.
Related Articles
Second Royal Navy Type 26 frigate sees the light
Insight: How rising tensions have fuelled the Type 26 frigate's development
Of the other three Type 26 vessels under construction, HMS Glasgow is undergoing the outfit of its combat and mission systems at Scotstoun, and HMS Belfast and HMS Birmingham are still under construction at Govan.
The addition of a new frigate to the Royal Navy will be welcome when it comes, as the fleet has a significant number of ships currently under repair, negatively impacting its operational capabilities.
The BAE Systems-built ship flies in the face of current UK Ministry of Defence anxiety over not only naval readiness, but also a £22 billion (US$28.9 billion) defence budget shortfall, and an ongoing Strategic Defence Review that will see the Ministry’s commitment to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP over time at odds with the stringencies likely to be imposed by that budgetary black hole.
David Shepherd, Type 26 programme director at BAE Systems, said: “The Type 26 has awesome and world-leading capability and we’re looking forward to installing HMS Cardiff’s complex systems and bringing her to life.”
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Taiwan multiplies mine-layer vessel and UAV inventories to deter PLA]()
Taiwan multiplies mine-layer vessel and UAV inventories to deter PLA
Taiwan is strengthening its deterrence against the PLA through an asymmetric arsenal that includes fast mine-laying vessels and domestically developed UAVs.
-
![L3Harris expands footprint across Europe via Everest NL and new contracts]()
L3Harris expands footprint across Europe via Everest NL and new contracts
L3Harris is targeting European naval modernisation with new uncrewed surface vessels, SATCOM partnerships, and regional investments including defence exercises and facility openings.
-
![Interview: DSTA collaborates with Leonardo, Thales and Safran for naval C-UAS]()
Interview: DSTA collaborates with Leonardo, Thales and Safran for naval C-UAS
In an exclusive interview with Shephard, DSTA chief Ng Chad-son outlines how the agency is reshaping defence tech development through deeper collaboration with industry partners, from AI-enhanced radar to smart naval munitions.
-
![BAE Systems to collaborate with Umoe Mandal on Type 26 frigate and Littoral Strike Craft]()
BAE Systems to collaborate with Umoe Mandal on Type 26 frigate and Littoral Strike Craft
The agreement is intended to boost opportunities for both UK and Norwegian naval shipbuilding.
-
![How the Force Design 2028 will impact US Coast Guard acquisitions]()
How the Force Design 2028 will impact US Coast Guard acquisitions
The FD 2028 strategy intends to reduce the bureaucracy in procurement processes while speeding up the field of assets.
-
![Thin-line towed arrays on uncrewed vessels deliver more cost-effective sonar, says SEA]()
Thin-line towed arrays on uncrewed vessels deliver more cost-effective sonar, says SEA
Miniaturisation of technology opens up radical sensing technologies to smaller navies under submarine threat, according to SEA sonar expert.
