01 July 2021

BAE Systems cuts first steel for third UK Type 26 frigate

by Kate Tringham

BAE Systems Naval Ships held a steel-cutting ceremony for the UK Royal Navy's (RN's) third City (Type 26)-class frigate, Belfast, at its Govan facility on the River Clyde in Scotland on 29 June.

The UK is procuring eight Type 26 frigates to replace the Royal Navy's ASW-configured Type 23 frigates. (BAE Systems)

Belfast is being built under a GBP3.7 billion (USD4.6 billion) contract awarded to BAE Systems in June 2017 for the first three of a planned class of eight ships. A contract for the second batch of five ships is expected in the early 2020s, with ship deliveries projected to run through to the mid-2030s.

According to BAE Systems, work on the first two ships is progressing well. First-of-class Glasgow , which started production in July 2017, was rolled out of the build hall for the first time in recent weeks. Meanwhile, about 40% of the units for second-in-class Cardiff, which started manufacture in August 2019, are in build, the shipyard said.

Under original timelines the lead ship was expected to enter service in the early 2020s. Delays to the programme, however, mean that Glasgow is now expected to enter service in 2027, followed by the second and third ships at intervals of up to 18 months,

Displacing around 8,000 tonnes fully loaded, the City class has an overall length of 149.9 m, a top speed of 28 kt, and range of 7,000 n miles at 15 kt. The news ships are intended to replace the RN's eight anti-submarine warfare (ASW)-configured Type 23 frigates. As such, the ship has been designed from the outset as an ASW-specialist platform, with an emphasis on reducing acoustic signatures, while also being capable of contributing to a wide range of other missions.

BAE Systems Naval Ships held a steel-cutting ceremony for the UK Royal Navy's (RN's) third City (Typ...

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