Construction begins on Royal Navy’s third Type 26 frigate

By Baird Maritime - July 5, 2021.

*Rendering of HMS Belfast (Photo: Royal Navy/BAE Systems)*

BAE Systems began construction of the third Type 26 or City-class frigate slated for the Royal Navy on Tuesday, June 29.

In a ceremony with the Duke of Cambridge as guest of honour, the first steel was cut for the future HMS Belfast, the second Royal Navy ship to be named after Northern Ireland’s capital city.

The future Belfast and its sisters will replace the navy’s Type 23 frigates in the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role. In addition to featuring ASW weapons, each will also be armed with a 127-millimetre naval gun and Sea Ceptor surface-to-air missiles.