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.
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Good news!
all well and good but another six years or so before the navy gets it isn’t anything to crow about is it?
More concerned that despite it seemingly being in build forever Glasgow isn’t to enter service for another 3 and a bit years.
There is usually always a longer build time for the first ship in the class as they are ironing out any kinks in the design.
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
,
Unfortunately if you look at likely out of service dates the RN is probably going to drop to 5 type 23s before the first 26 has IOC so the low water mark may actually be 11 escorts before it starts to reverse around 2030.
they’ll be obsolete by the time they are all in service
They really won’t, there’s stuff that can be upgraded down the line like the radar but as an ASW platform there’s nothing revolutionary coming along that can’t be updated on the current hull
The radar system is already obsolescent. No one is building a frigate of this size with a rotary radar anymore.
Rotary radars aren’t obsolescent. But how are you planning to pay for new ones than ones off the T23
Cut DEI all over your government and any taxpayers money for those institutions and companies that have them. Then cancel the obsolete fast train and net zero silliness.
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….
Too long, whereas hull fabrication seems to be speeding up, fitting out is happening at a glacial pace.
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
1942 😀
Type 42 / Type 22 / Type 23 once past the lead ship averaged 3 year to build so 70s through to mid 90s
Was it not from first steel cut?
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
Was hoping we could leave the B2’s abroad, global Britain and all 😀
Yes, that’s what I would prefer too. But to make it happen we need at least 3 suitable additional hulls. I think the fastest way to do that is to buy Kongsberg Vanguard.
if you are placing the delay on kit coming from the decommed type-23s then you are barking up the wrong tree. The first of the Type-23s to be decommissioned occurred in 2021. It will be 2025 in four and a bit weeks. That is more than enough time to service the Artisan radar and the VLS farm. There is also a towed array available from HMS Westminster. and there has been plenty of time to service that as well since she has been laid up since 2023. They are slow because there is nobody willing to pay for them to… Read more »
“Presence is the real deterrent”.
Completely agree. Applies whether you are talking about policemen on the beat or UK waters or Indo Pacific OPVs.
“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,..”
No, it was promised in 2015 SDR, that a few new kit will be ordered to equipp the batch 1’s T26’s? Without the first 3 T23’s having to be decommissioned and stripped down for parts!
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.
“A key role in …counter piracy to humanitarian relief”. At @ £1b each, using T26 in such roles is absurd. With at best 8 ASW frigates available to protect CSG and LSG as well as conducting other ASW tasks, we need to use them only for their primary purpose. It’s as daft as West arguing that the QEs would be great for humanitarian tasks. Maybe true, but not a good reason to spend £7.5b on.
Any minister from the Scottish government in attendance? Just asking.
Brilliant! Symbolic milestone; marks a turning point.
Right, BAE needs to speed up the fitting out of HMS Glasgow, otherwise scotstoun will become the bottleneck for T26.
Another 3 years on fitting out is ridiculous.
Glasgow, after formally naming next year, will be handed over to the Navy in 2026. I imagine shipbuilder’s sea trial might start as early as the end of next year.
IOC is still not planned until 2028.
Exactly, tthe whole proxx of fitting out and testing need to be sped up urgently.
Yes,, with savings from decommissioning Hms Westminster and Northumberland ring fence.
We Want 8!!!! But we need then NOW!!!