Work has officially commenced on HMS Sheffield, the fifth of eight Type 26 frigates being built for the Royal Navy, with a steel-cutting ceremony held in Glasgow.
The milestone marks another step forward in the City Class frigate programme, which will replace the Type 23 fleet and secure the Royal Navy’s capabilities well into the 2060s.
The Type 26 frigates, among the world’s most advanced warships, are designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare and will protect the Royal Navy’s Continuous At Sea Deterrent and Carrier Strike Group. They will also play a key role in international operations, from counter-piracy missions to humanitarian relief. Maria Eagle MP, Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, attended the event and said:
“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 programme will support around 2,000 jobs in Scotland and an estimated 4,000 jobs across the UK supply chain. Simon Lister, Managing Director of BAE Systems Naval Ships, highlighted the importance of the project: “HMS Sheffield’s construction will benefit from investments transforming our digital and physical infrastructure, consolidating a centre of excellence for UK shipbuilding in Glasgow.”
HMS Sheffield continues a proud naval tradition, with its name previously carried by notable Royal Navy vessels, including a Town-class cruiser active in World War II and a Type 42 destroyer deployed during the Falklands War.
HMS Glasgow, the first in the City Class, is set to enter service by the end of 2028, with the entire fleet expected to be operational by the mid-2030s.
Good news!
There is an acute need to to put the accelerator down and get these builds done.
There’s a lack of workforce and they’re building the hall. Not much else to be done
BAE have said they can ramp up production around securing the Norway contract. They can farm out more blocks to further yards for prefabrication.
There’s no money for that. It’s all catch up now since the destroyer/frigate fleet is down to 14 units. At least the current schedule envisages getting back to around 19 units by 2030 … assuming there are not further surprises in the defence review.
You are right. Even if BAE could speed up construction, there is not the budget to build one T26 a year. The original plan was one per 18 months even that will be a stretch. I expect we will have 7 by 2035.and the last one in 2036 or 37
,
Sheff is back
We seem to announce a lot of frigates being started just never seem to get any finished.
HMS Glasgow seems to be taking forever….
Still amazes me these are taking 10 years from laid down to commissioning used to take 3
When was the last time it took 3?
6 in number Mk 10 frigates were designed and built in 6 years by Vosper Thornycroft in the 1970’s
Lets not forget that many of the systems are coming over form the T23’s main radar and sonar to start with so have to be stripped out, refurbished before fitting out on the new hull. Is it really an upgrade never mind the new gun and empty weapons silo’s. Its one large hull which can only be in one place at any one time. More hulls needed as of the 8 perhaps 4-5 will be available to undertake tasking! I think some of the OPV’s could take on more tasking around the UK keep those nasty folks at bay if they were fitted out with some sensors. Presence is the real deterrent.
Most of the B2 Rivers will likely return to the UK and join the coastal forces squadron as T-31s come available and the B1s start being decommissioned. The B2 OPVs have a decent 2D radar mounted high and will be able to monitor a much greater area than their mother class whilst also retaining the possibility for bolt on systems such as UAS, UUV and USV to expand their patrol envelopes or give them additional capabilities such as sub sea monitoring or limited MCM facilities. The monitoring of our coastal waters is very good; the entire UK OPV fleet is often active and deployed in key areas and is also supported by the remaining MCM vessels acting as additional OPVs whilst undeployed, the P2000s that have began being bought back under direct RN control have been experimenting with some fancy new unmanned systems to give them huge new inshore surveillance capabilities and TAPS patrol and large warships active for escorts through the channel have remained consistent even through the crewing and availability turmoil.
I hope the current level of UK coastal defence is continued and the coastal forces squadron or TAPS patrols are expanded, naval aggression by Russia is in the rise again and our MPs mustn’t forget about the smaller ships that do the bulk of the work in our home waters whilst peddling the East of Suez narrative and capital ship building programs.
Great news another desparately need ship has been laid down , why is it taking so long though to get them into the fleet . 10 years is a ridiculously long time to build a ship , any ship .
Maybe not a starship
There isn’t the budget to build one T26 per year, it needs to be spread out over at least 18 months.
I’d be delighted if there was news about frigates finishing build…..
Any new images of the assembly shed in Glasgow?
Without sounding too pushy. I shouldn’t have put it if the shed had progressed.