BAE Systems has begun construction on the fifth of a planned eight Type 26 or City-class anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates ordered by the Royal Navy.
The future HMS Sheffield and its sisters will be built on the Clyde and are slated to replace the ASW-optimised examples of the Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates. Upon completion, each Type 26 ship will have a displacement of 8,000 tonnes, a CODLOG propulsion arrangement that will deliver speeds of over 26 knots, and a low-observable stealth hull form.
Armament will consist of a 127mm naval gun, two 30mm remotely fired cannon, two Phalanx close-in weapon systems, four machine guns, Sea Ceptor surface-to-air missiles, and anti-ship cruise missiles.
A mission bay situated abaft the helicopter hangar will be available for the transportation and deployment of rigid inflatable boats, uncrewed aerial and underwater vehicles, as well as swimmer delivery vehicles.
Of the other four Type 26 vessels already under construction, HMS Belfast and HMS Birmingham are being fabricated at Govan. HMS Glasgow and HMS Cardiff are undergoing outfit at Scotstoun where complex systems will be installed before test and commissioning takes place. Glasgow, the first ship in class, is scheduled to enter service in 2028.