Drone imagery shows the progress of a massive new ‘frigate factory’ in Glasgow.
The massive facility at Govan represents a huge boost in capability for UK naval shipbuilding.
Here are some drone images showing the progress as of today, HMS Cardiff can also be seen. HMS Cardiff will be the last frigate to have its hull sections integrated in the open air on the hardstanding.
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.
https://twitter.com/UKDefJournal/status/1721484996412641726
Here’s how the site looked earlier in the 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 would allow ships to be built indoors, protecting them against the elements and would form part of an effort to modernise the yard to make it more attractive to future orders.
Project Background
In their Govan Assembly Hall planning consultation, BAE say that at present, full ships longer than 75 metres cannot be constructed undercover at Govan, something which is a major constraint to their business. Shown below is the current arrangement, the ‘SBOH’ is the facility in which ship hull sections are currently built before being moved outside and welded together. According to the consultation:
“As such, BAE Systems intends to develop a new ship building hall which is capable of meeting the United Kingdom’s ship building requirements. This necessitates the construction of a new ship building facility in Govan, one that will allow for at least two ships to be built simultaneously under cover and in single hull format.
The opportunity to provide a new modern ship building hall of this nature would allow BAE Systems to adopt improved shipbuilding techniques together with improved construction access and state of the art, dedicated, on-site office and amenities accommodation.”
The Ship Building Hall and Supporting Accommodation
The firm state that the shipbuilding hall will occupy part of the existing shipyard wet basin and will provide accommodation to allow for at least two ships to be built simultaneously under cover and in single hull format.
In terms of dimensions, the proposed 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.
Good to see Uk seemingly has a decent long term plan for Royal Navy and its support infrastructure . Would like to see this stuff ring-fence like the NHS to ensure it does not get scrapped in future . Its obviously 10 yrs behind but at least the mindset is more positive .
As you say it is now a real object that can be touched.
The contract is clearly incentivising a rapid completion looking at the resource density of heavy plant on-site.
This is a positive so lets be glad of that. When they built the 5 River 2’s what was BAE thinking. They should have done it all then. They have Vospers so I’m glad they have lost their monopoly.
Easy to say that but at that point those 5 vessels were the only RN contracted builds in the country and fitted into the existing block build halls.
Those 5 ships were only ordered due to the U.K/BAe TO. agreement as infill work after HMG cancelled T45 nos 7&8 so they could fund the speeding up of the T26 build 🥴
BAe are a private business, not a charity or risk taker but they started the planning application process to build the Frigate Factory way back in 2014 (I think) but was to be at Scotstoun not Govan.
At that point there were 13 T26 in the programme so it made commercial sense to invest in the New Hall, but U.K. Gov then cut the T26 programme from 13 to 8 but only ordered the 1st 3 T26b1.
So as BAe had now been burnt twice, HMG was looking for cheaper Frigates elsewhere they didn’t commit their money (can’t blame them really).
BAe have waited till the order for 5 T26b2 and the promise of the T83 builds before committing the investment.
Not always a fan of BAe but it was all down to HMG not committing resources, changing the goalposts and generally dithering around.
As for losing their Monopoly that’s a good thing all round because HMG has to ensure it sticks to the NSB and provide enough guaranteed work for 2 suppliers.
Stupid thing is it actually cost the Tax Payer more money over the entire T26 build than the cost to just fund the New Hall in the first place.
Short sighted &<$€hole Politicians.
Where there’s will and a pot of money and given the, seemingly, increased build rate…
…can I have 3 more T26s please?
People more knowledgeable than me will be able to confirm that T8x is ready for the off after the T26 has left, right?
The reason I ask is if you look at Barrow, it may not be seemless, however, as the Astutes leave, they’ll move immediately on to the SSBN build followed by the AUKAS SSN builds.
And we know, a changing Govt might have different priorities and adding 3 extra T26s now would help immensely if T8x is delayed.
Bad news for the trolls Ajax stating to arrive .
I’m now waiting to hear if Barrow in Furness is set to get a new AUKUS submarine factory. With the renewed possibility that the first Australian boat will be built at Barrow in order to meet the required delivery date, it must be marginal whether the Devonshire Dock Hall has the required capability to assembly and complete 4 Dreadnought’s and two AUKUS’s (one for the RN, one for the RAN) between the early and late 2030’s.