Displaying items by tag: Royal Navy Type 26's

30th November 2022

Royal Navy Type 26 Frigates to be Built in Glasgow Confirms UK Prime Minister

Shipyards in Scotland are to construct five warships for the UK's Royal Navy following the British prime minister's confirmation of the next phase in a shipbuilding programme.

As BBC News reports, Rishi Sunak has accounced that BAE Systems two Clydeside shipyards have been awarded the £4.2bn contract to build a further five Type 26 frigates. The announcement follows an existing trio of the same class of newbuilds already under construction.

According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) the deal would support 1,700 jobs over the next decade for the Royal Navy's 21st century frigates to be constructed at the shipyards in Glasgow where the newbuilds are to replace 12 ageing Type 23 frigates.

The BAE shipyards located in Govan and Scotstoun is where the trio of Type 26's which are designed for anti-submarine warfare and air defence, are already being built as part of an initial £3.7bn order that was announced in 2017.

At the time of that deal the MoD said five more newbuilds would be agreed in the "early 2020s".

The first of the frigates, HMS Glasgow (Afloat adds last week at Govan was transferred onto a semi-submersible barge) is to be on track later this year with delivery to the Royal Navy in the mid-2020s. The Type 26 leadship first began construction with steel-cutting in 2017.

Next to follow construction was HMS Cardiff and the third City class, HMS Belfast which as Afloat previously reported is also under construction at the Govan shipyard.

Across the North Channel, the Harland & Wolff Group (incl. its Belfast shipyard) was recently selected as part of a team bidder to construct for the MoD three crucial support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) at a cost of £1.6 bn. The support vessels are to serve the requirements of the Royal Navy.

For more coverage of the Clydeside shipyard's naval contract award can be read here.

Published in Shipyards

Tagged under

About the Loughs Agency

The Loughs Agency is a governmental body established under the 1998 Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland. The Agency's goal is to provide sustainable social, economic, and environmental benefits by effectively conserving, managing, promoting, and developing the fisheries and marine resources of the Foyle and Carlingford areas.

The Agency's governing legislation confers several specific functions, including the promotion of development of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough for commercial and recreational purposes in respect of marine, fishery, and aquaculture matters. Moreover, the Agency is responsible for managing, conserving, protecting, improving, and developing the inland fisheries of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Additionally, the Agency has the task of developing and licensing aquaculture, as well as the development of marine tourism.

The Loughs Agency reports to the North South Ministerial Council and its government Sponsor Departments, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland, and the Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications (DECC) in Ireland. The Departments fund the Agency on an equal basis.

The Loughs Agency's focus on sustainable development is expected to have a positive impact on the economy, environment, and local communities in the Foyle and Carlingford areas. The Agency's efforts to conserve and enhance the region's marine resources, including fisheries and aquaculture, are expected to benefit local communities, promote tourism, and contribute to economic growth.

In conclusion, the Loughs Agency plays a vital role in promoting the sustainable social, economic, and environmental development of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Its work on marine conservation and development is crucial in ensuring the long-term viability of the region's natural resources and in promoting sustainable economic growth.