UK Type 26 frigate Glasgow construction resumes while damage to cables investigated

UK Royal Navy's (RN's) Type 26 City-class frigate Glasgow arriving in Scotstoun on 3 December 2022 following its launch. The ship is planned to enter service in the late 2020s. (BAE Systems)

Work on the UK Royal Navy's (RN's) Type 26 City-class frigate Glasgow has resumed at defence prime BAE Systems' Scotstoun shipyard on the River Clyde in Scotland, while it investigates the cause of damage to ship cables.

Fitting-out work on Glasgow was temporarily halted after around 60 of its cables were uncovered on 9 and 10 May that appeared to have been damaged intentionally, a BAE spokesperson told Janes .

“We immediately launched an internal investigation, alongside our suppliers, and temporarily paused work on the ship to inspect every area of the vessel and ensure our high standards and quality controls are met,” the spokesperson said.

Work on the ship has now resumed and an assessment is also under way to scope the repairs needed.

The future HMS Glasgow is the lead ship of a new class of eight Type 26 City-class frigates being built by BAE Systems for the RN under construction contracts awarded in mid-2017 (for the first three frigates) and late 2022 (for the remaining five).

Glasgow's construction programme achieved a major milestone in early December 2022 when it entered the water for the first time, and the ship is currently being fitted out at the Scotstoun shipyard with a view to starting its initial sea trials in 2025. Under current planning, Glasgow is expected to be commissioned in late 2026 and achieve initial operating capability (IOC) around October 2028.