Scotland is ‘beating heart’ of British shipbuilding

The naming of HMS Glasgow at BAE Systems’ Clyde shipyard has underscored Scotland’s central role in UK defence manufacturing, with Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray calling the country the “beating heart of military shipbuilding.”

Held on 22 May and attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the ceremony saw Her Royal Highness formally christen the first of eight Type 26 City-class frigates by smashing a bottle of whisky against its hull—honouring naval tradition and the ship’s namesake city.

Constructed in Glasgow, HMS Glasgow is part of a £7.9 billion investment in British shipbuilding, directly supporting 1,700 skilled jobs on the Clyde and a further 2,300 across the wider UK maritime supply chain.

“Scotland is the beating heart of military shipbuilding, with eight Type 26 ships being built by BAE Systems in Glasgow and five Type 31 frigates by Babcock International in Rosyth,” said Ian Murray, the UK Government’s Scottish Secretary.

“Economic growth and national security are UK Government priorities and our multi-billion pound investment in Scotland’s best-in-world shipbuilding and wider defence sectors will play a crucial role in delivering our Plan for Change,” he added.

The eight City-class frigates are designed to replace the Royal Navy’s aging Type 23 anti-submarine warfare ships and will be based at HMNB Devonport. HMS Glasgow is expected to enter service by 2028, providing advanced anti-submarine capabilities to protect the UK’s Carrier Strike Group and at-sea nuclear deterrent.

Maria Eagle, Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, said the programme exemplified Scotland’s strategic importance: “The Type 26 programme demonstrates how Scotland’s world-class shipbuilding expertise contributes to both our national security and economic prosperity.”

In addition to the UK order, the Type 26 design has been adopted by Australia and Canada for their own naval modernisation efforts, creating a 29-ship global programme and unlocking export potential for the UK’s defence supply chain.

Defence spending in Scotland currently totals £2.1 billion annually, supporting over 11,000 industry jobs and more than 14,000 military and civilian personnel at strategic sites including HMNB Clyde and RAF Lossiemouth.

“The skills, expertise and innovation in Scottish shipyards is clear to see,” Murray said, highlighting the government’s ongoing Brand Scotland campaign to promote the sector’s global competitiveness.

Once completed by the mid-2030s, the eight Type 26 frigates will form the backbone of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet, equipped with cutting-edge sensors, weapons, and communication systems to meet threats well into the 2060s.