The main piling works at the new shipbuilding facility at the BAE Systems yard in Govan, Glasgow, have been completed.
The building will be one of the largest in Scotland when completed.
Here's the latest monthly drone 'progress' update video on HMS Cardiff and the upcoming Govan 'frigate factory'. Little to report externally on HMS Cardiff, progress on the new build hall looks great, however. pic.twitter.com/qZ7GSvaxeO
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) April 4, 2024
For the avoidance of doubt, the drone footage was obtained legally by a qualified person in adherence to UK drone legislation and guidance. In addition, the drone is insured, and a flight plan was submitted using drone safety software.
The firm responsible also report that the cofferdam pile installation is due to complete later this month.
📸 Project update 📸
The main piling works at our @BAESystemsplc Glasgow site have been completed with the cofferdam pile installation due to complete later this month.#BuildingTogetherUnlockingPotential pic.twitter.com/69lWITj35c
— McLaughlin&Harvey (@Official_McLH) March 19, 2024
The massive facility at Govan represents a huge boost in capability for UK naval shipbuilding. The new ‘frigate factory’ will consist of more than 6,000 tonnes of steel and 20,000m3 of concrete. It will be able to fit two Type 26 Frigates side by side.
Below is how the site looked last year.
Work has started on a huge expansion of the BAE Systems yard at Govan, with excavators currently filling in the old 'wet basin' to make way for a huge new 'frigate factory'. Read more here: https://t.co/uBquNHihd9 pic.twitter.com/zsgdzkX9Lx
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) February 14, 2023
I previously reported that planning permission had been granted for a huge new shipbuilding hall at the BAE Systems site in Govan, with work on the first ship to be built in the facility starting soon.
It is hoped that Type 26 ships 3 to 8 will be assembled in this facility, with the first two being assembled outdoors. HMS Glasgow is shown below when she was being put together on the hard standing, adjacent to the wet basin area after she was built in sections in the existing build hall and joined together.
The new build hall wil allow ships to be built indoors, protecting them against the elements and would form part of an effort to modernise the yard. In terms of dimensions, the shipbuilding hall will be approximately 81 metres wide, 170 metres long and 49 metres high to the building ridge line. This represents a massive expansion of capabilities and capacity at the yard, as let’s not forget, the original build hall will still be available for use.
To be welcomed, now just a Govt some cajones left to to order 4*T26 B3.
Go on Mark Francois, you know you want this.
In reality there is likely to be a gap between T26 and T83 which they are going to have to fill with something. Unfortunately I doubt it will be more T26 no matter how much we want them. They’ll probably do a B3 River OPV instead!😂 Having two separate shipbuilding halls is great but they have to have a drumbeat of work otherwise they are just white elephants.
Of course the T83 development process may yet be accelerated and be more off the shelf instead of unique to the RN. Nothings impossible, just unlikely.
Dragon Fire to be installed on type 83s best get a move on then it will be down too recruitment and retention of personnel . Let’s hope any future Government sees the need for Ships and Crews and not put defence on the back burner
Hopefully Dragonfire can/will also go on the T26, Carriers and maybe T31/32s.
And the T45?
Would a B3 River OPV, approximately equivalent to a well equipped corvette, be a catastrophic decision? Obviously, a B3 T-26 would be vastly preferable, but the RN CAPEX budget may not permit the expenditure. A small, properly equipped warship, w/ minimized operating expenses and personnel requirements could prove to be beneficial in the littoral areas around the UK, and possibly in the Med and even the Baltic Sea. 🤔
They’ll have to compete with Babcock’s A140/ T31/MRP. And may the best ship win!
Something needs announcing soon!
My betting is that we will see more 3-5 more T31 (to a slightly higher spec but still relatively cheap) and maybe 2 more T26 to keep lines running BUT T26 is built at such a glacial (geological?) pace that……it may not be necessary.
Budgets are tight so that favours more T31 – assuming T31 works out in the water. That is most likely the stalling point that a co tract for ‘more’ can’t/won’t be let until T31 is at least testable and inspectable.
That would at least make growing the surface fleet a real claim.
Fitting T31 with Mk41 gives it good offensive options, if we build another batch then hull/bow sonar would be a good step up.
Although it still wouldn’t be in T26’s class.
If you want quiet hulls then expect expensive.
The question is ‘is there a use for a mid capability ASW asset?’
I do not expect a T31 to be tasked as a primary ASW, but a bow sonar is useful to detect and avoid underwater obstacles, and mines, plus the detection of incoming torpedos and UUvs.
Nope, RN won’t be the focus for the next government, its going to be army and European defence. Oh and wind farms.
SB, Agree it would be beneficial to capture the most recently negotiated prices for T-26 and/or T-31. However, isn’t there already a multi-billion £ projected shortfall in the ten year equipment plan, which does not currently include funding for multiple ship classes? Sometimes it beggars the imagination that virtually everyone on this site, regardless of background, realizes that no well-rounded, modern military, no matter how efficiently managed, can be sustained on a nominal ~2.1% (~1.6% real) GDP budget. Yet, virtually the entire UK political class is apparently resolutely determined to avoid grappling w/ reality. Hope that, whichever party wins your… Read more »
Babcock Defender 90 looks interesting.
And affordable by the RN? 🤔🤞
I think the most important next decision is what replaces the Bays, LPDs and Argus. The Enforcer design is looking favourite but what size(s) and how many.
There’s school of thought that says we could build 4-6 9000 ton 120m Enforcers armed like T31. Sort of a de luxe Damen Crossover.
Would this be a result of the British/Dutch MOA/MOU re design alternatives for MRSS class? Always believed the Dutch (and Danes) are inherently intelligent, rational groups (perhaps both should be recruited for GCAP?). 🤔
Yes, I think the agreement only commits us to joint study, but the RM and Dutch marines have exercised together. Being familiar with the internal layout and sharing key component would mske sense. The Dutch want to use Enforcer to replace both their Holland opvs and their LPDs. Not sure the RN are thinking the same way – the River 2s are doing a good job – but I can see some affinity between, say aanother batch of T31 and the Enforcer 9k ton LPD design- if the basic crew size can be kept around 100 and the ship is… Read more »
Personally believe cooperation w/:the Dutch is a master stroke by the RN. Understand that the Dutch have been producing ships for hundreds of years and recognize the value of a Euro, especially their own. 🤔😁
There’s cultural synergy; we are both constitutional Protestant monarchies- the English preferred William of Orange to a Scottish king 🙂 . And we both have a proud history of global trading empires but are having to deal with today’s reality. I suspect the most important influence has been the success of the Bay class design – which is a derivative of an earlier Damen Enforcer. If its working don’t fix it!
They could maybe afford 2 B3 T26 like the 1930’s Town Cruisers.
🤞🤞
More likely to be wind farm work than B3’s, that’s where the money’s going.
This hall build is quite a commitment so BAE must be confident of getting some substantial future work. It’d be nice to get a few export orders too that seem to be a bit hard to come by. And the same for Babcock.
Its also to prevent problems they’ve seen with building outside so its of vlaue even for the current order book.
Are the side concrete areas for lay down outfitting, fitting out areas similar to the original Scotstoun ship factory? The focus on the Pallion ship factory and digital had this. As well as a big building dock!
My guess is offices, mess room, changing rooms showers toilets etc as well as possibly stores for small items. All to minimize time taken going too and fro.
Propositioning would make sense.
I am intrigued TBH but surprised there hasn’t been a BAE CGI about it.
Propositioning? Did not realize Scottish shipyards are party Meccas. 😁 Perhaps prepositioning? 🤔
@spellchecher…..
The area up to the quayside is very incomplete , also seems a lot of internal concrete structure at the sides which looks excessive for office space or facilities. I see some possible steel foundation works on top of these that I assume may be for supports of the overhead gantry crane structures .Hopefully the main hall structural steel will arrive soon and be assembled and sheeted over .
That bit is very quick.
I used to own a company that built warehousing.
It all arrives pre laser cut and fabricated for assembly. It is a big enough site that they can use 4-6 cranes to put the steels up.
You’d be surprised how fast it goes together.
The internal M&E can be a nightmare as it is a big package that subcontractors can’t really cope with and they need a lot of ‘help’ from the main contractor……
Govan looks good until 2040, but Rosyth will need a follow-on order before 2030, either for more Type 31/32, or something new like a River-like OPV to replace Batch 1 or maybe something like the Enforcer MPV (Bay etc replacement). River-like is a good idea as it will challenge Babcock to deliver a competitor to the River which honestly felt quite expensive. Like, it has a bunch of combat software but no real armaments and yet still cost north of 100 million? (For the UK at least, 44m for the Brazilians). OPVs are a great tool and have been used… Read more »
We need to drive deeper automation and resilience in our naval capabilities. Obviously for reduced manpower, cost and life safety but also to get greatest bang for our buck. Human resources are valuable – we need our people to do the most important jobs not repeat tasks a conveyor belt could do.
This applies on board and in assembly. Perhaps having these additional assembly halls and the need for a stop gap measure before T83 comes along will give us the opportunity to do some R&D and realise a step change in performance.
Glass half full today.
What’s the betting the T83 design is too big to build in the new shed.
That would be ironic!