Type 26 Frigate Programme (BAE Systems Glasgow Build)
Govan and Scotstoun shipyards, Glasgow, Scotland, UK · 2017–Ongoing (first steel cut for HMS Glasgow 2017, second batch contract 2022, expected service 2020s-2035) · £3.7bn (first three frigates, 2017), £4.2bn (next five frigates, 2022), total £8bn (for eight ships, 2016 estimate), £1.31bn (per unit for Batch 1, 2022 est.)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchThe Type 26 program is a cornerstone of the Royal Navy's future fleet, designed to protect the UK's nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers. - Significant investment in UK shipbuilding, sustaining thousands of jobs. - The program has faced challenges with cost and schedule due to complexity and external factors, highlighting the difficulties of modern warship construction. - The "City Class" frigates represent a new generation of naval capability.
Key engineering challenges
Building highly complex, advanced anti-submarine warfare frigates. - Managing the construction of multiple vessels simultaneously across two shipyards. - Integrating cutting-edge combat systems and technologies. - Overcoming disruptions such as COVID-19 and technical issues (e.g., gearboxes).
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence
- Lead contractor
- BAE Systems Maritime – Naval Ships
- Lead designers
- BAE Systems
- Project type
- new build (vessel/fleet programme)
- Scale
- Eight Type 26 Global Combat Ships; anti-submarine warfare vessels; HMS Glasgow (first of class) 65% complete as of March 2024.
- Disciplines
- Naval Architecture; Marine Engineering; Systems Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Defence Engineering; Shipbuilding
- Standards & frameworks
- Royal Navy standards, UK Ministry of Defence procurement regulations, international shipbuilding standards.
Sources: BAE Systems: BAE Systems awarded £4.2bn contract to build five more Type 26 frigates in Glasgow (https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/bae-systems-awarded-4-2bn-contract-to-build-five-more-type-26-frigates-in-glasgow) - Naval Technology: Type 26 Global Combat Ship Programme, UK (https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/type-26-gcs-programme-uk/) - Navy Lookout: Building the Royal Navy’s silent hunter: Type 26 frigate programme update (https://www.navylookout.com/building-the-royal-navys-silent-hunter-type-26-frigate-programme-update/) - Wikipedia: Type 26 frigate (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_26_frigate) - Royal Navy: HMS Glasgow (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/organisation/units-and-squadrons/type-26/hms-glasgow)