The Royal Navy’s ambitious Type 26 frigate programme marked another milestone today as construction officially began on HMS Sheffield, the fifth of eight planned City Class warships.
The ceremonial steel cutting took place at BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard in Glasgow, performed by 27-year-old Apprentice Fabricator Burner Michael Miller. The project, part of a larger programme to deliver eight advanced warships, is sustaining nearly 2,000 jobs in Scotland and 4,000 across the wider UK supply chain, hitting home the sector’s critical role in supporting skilled employment.
Attending the ceremony, Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle spoke on the economic and strategic importance of the programme:
“HMS Sheffield represents not just a cutting-edge addition to our fleet, but also demonstrates our commitment to supporting thousands of skilled jobs and economic growth across Scotland and the wider UK. This investment in our naval capability ensures we can continue to protect our nation’s interests while supporting British industry.”
The Type 26 frigates, among the world’s most advanced warships, are designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare and high-intensity air defence but are versatile enough to support humanitarian missions.
These vessels are integral to the Royal Navy’s modernisation, replacing the ageing Type 23 fleet. HMS Sheffield follows HMS Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast, and Birmingham, which are at various stages of construction on the Clyde. The first in class, HMS Glasgow, is expected to enter service by 2028.
BAE Systems continues to invest in its Glasgow facilities, including a £12m Applied Shipbuilding Academy and the Janet Harvey Hall, a state-of-the-art shipbuilding facility named after a World War II electrician.
Simon Lister, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Naval Ships business, praised the teams behind the project:
“HMS Sheffield’s construction will benefit from a range of investments, transforming our digital and physical infrastructure and consolidating a centre of excellence for UK shipbuilding in Glasgow. This is a proud moment for our talented teams across the UK.”
The programme also has a global dimension, with Australia and Canada adopting the Type 26 design for their own navies. Lessons learned across the three nations’ 32-ship programme will enhance efficiency and capability.
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Going to need more than eight type 26s. HMG needs to add back onto the programme another 2-4 ships.
Agreed, a clear need for four more T26’s and four more T31, to put minimum mass back…
Add 9 replacements for the T45 and we will reach 30 Escorts, a number we should never have dropped below.
Alas we probably dont have the crew numbers for that. We should probably long lead time those ships though, so the yards actually have something to do once this burst of work finishes
Given the glacial pace of construction you can train crews in 7 years….just needs recruitment -> training -> pay and condition -> accommodation -> retention to be sorted…..
They didn’t seem to think they could train crews for Albions in 6-7 years time, no sign of the situation improving
How is the type 26 frigate program ambitious, only 8 compared to 16 type 23 and built at a glacial pace
The ambition is to outlast 7 or 8 prime ministers without any being cancelled or sold.
Churned out is not a phrase I would use to describe this situation were not one ship has even gone out for trials
Churned out suggests speed of delivery.
Which we are not seeing. But, we could.
I’d be happier if tails on T26 and T31 were progressing at pace.
“Churned out”? Hardly, the Chinese churn out. Scotland bumbles. Think “ferry”.