Steel Cut On New Royal Navy Warship

Work has begun on the construction of HMS Sheffield, a Type 26 frigate which will become the Royal Navy's newest and most advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) vessel to date.

The first plates for the £4.2 billion vessel were cut at a ceremony at BAE Systems' Glasgow shipyard last week, with Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP and other specially invited guests looking on, including representatives from BAE Systems, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), and the Royal Navy.

Variants of the Type 26 ships are being built for Australia and Canada as well as the U.K.; it's the first time these three navies have shared a platform since before the Second World War. 

The Sheffield will be the fifth of eight Type 26s ordered by the Royal Navy. HMS Glasgow and HMS Cardiff are being fitted out, and the former is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2028. Work has also already begun on HMS Belfast and HMS Birmingham; the final three on order are HMS Newcastle, Edinburgh and London. Each of the City-Class frigates are expected to stay in service for at least 25 years.

Designed for ASW and air defence, the new Royal Navy frigates will replace the current Type 23 fleet and will be among the world’s most advanced warships. Their main role will be to defend the submarines that make up the U.K.'s continuously at sea nuclear deterrent and the Royal Navy's Carrier Strike Group. The ships will also support international operations and joint exercises, conduct counter-piracy missions, and supply humanitarian relief as required.

Nearly 2,000 jobs and apprenticeships will be supported through the production of the Type 26 frigates, plus a further  4,000 jobs throughout the UK supply chain, as per a recent Ministry of Defence press statement.

Ms Eagle said: "This steel-cutting ceremony marks another key moment for both our Royal Navy and British shipbuilding. HMS Sheffield represents not just a cutting-edge addition to our fleet, but also demonstrates our commitment to supporting thousands of skilled jobs and economic growth across Scotland and the wider U.K."   

Managing director of BAE Systems Naval Ships Sir Simon Lister added: "This is a proud moment for our talented teams across the UK who play their part in the design and construction of these important vessels.

"HMS Sheffield’s construction will benefit from a range of investments which are transforming our digital and physical infrastructure and will consolidate a centre of excellence for U.K. shipbuilding in Glasgow."

• You can read more on the MoD and BAE Systems websites