BAE Systems starts production of second Type 26 Frigate

The ceremony was attended by employees, representatives from the Royal Navy, as well as Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Minister for Defence Procurement, who performed the official duty of setting the plasma cutting machine to work on a plate of steel.

The plate will form part of the unit that holds vital fuel stores for the ship.

The Type 26 is designed to deliver the most advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability to the Royal Navy. Each Type 26 will be equipped with a range of capabilities including the Sea Ceptor missile defence system, a 5-inch medium calibre gun, flexible mission bay, Artisan 997 Medium Range Radar, powerful bow and towed array sonars and a vertical launch silo capable of hosting a variety of weapons.

This ceremony for the second of the Type 26 class comes two years after steel was cut on the first in class, HMS Glasgow. Progress on HMS Glasgow continues with over 50% of the ship now in production and remains on track to enter service in the mid-2020s.

Defence Procurement Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP said: "The Royal Navy's new world beating Type 26 anti-submarine frigates are truly a UK-wide enterprise, supporting thousands of jobs here in Scotland and across the UK. These ships will clearly contribute to UK and allied security, but also make a strong economic contribution to the country. With 64 sub-contracts already placed with UK-based businesses, there will be new export opportunities for them to tender for through the selection of the Type 26 design by Australia and Canada too."

BAE is working alongside 80 companies across the UK and international supply chain to deliver the programme, helping to sustain 4,000 jobs across the UK and providing a foundation for work in Glasgow into the next decade.

Steve Timms, managing director, BAE Systems Naval Ships, said: “Today’s steel cut ceremony demonstrates the significant and positive progress we are making on this hugely complex, sophisticated and important programme. The Type 26 ships will be the most advanced anti-submarine warfare frigates the Royal Navy has ever had and, together with the five-ship River Class Offshore Patrol Vessel programme, we are proud of the role we play at BAE Systems, alongside many thousands of dedicated people in our supply chain, to deliver this critical capability for the UK Royal Navy.”

BAE Systems www.baesystems.com