Name of first Type 26 name revealed

The Defence Secretary has revealed HMS Glasgow will be the name of first of eight City class Type 26 frigates.

Michael Fallon revealed the name of the first Type 26 frigate as he cut her first piece of steel at Govan shipyard in Scotland.

In front of the assembled BAE Systems workforce, the Defence Secretary officially began the manufacture of HMS Glasgow the first in a new generation of cutting edge frigates, delivering on the commitment to start production this summer on a programme that will sustain 1700 jobs in Scotland for two decades.

Together the three ships being built under the first contract will safeguard 4000 jobs in Scotland and across the wider UK supply chain until 2035.

The Type 26 is an advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare frigate that will provide essential protection to our nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers, building on the pedigree of the Royal Navy’s current Type 23 frigates. It will be designed to allow its weapon systems to be adapted throughout its lifespan to counter future threats.

Fallon said: “Today marks a historic milestone for the Royal Navy, Scottish shipbuilding and UK Defence more widely. HMS Glasgow and the other seven frigates in this new class will protect our powerful new aircraft carriers and nuclear deterrent, helping keep Britain safe across the world.

“The Type 26 is a cutting-edge warship that will maintain our naval power with a truly global reach. Designed for a service life of at least 25 years, the Type 26 frigates will form a backbone of the future Royal Navy surface fleet well into the future.”

Philip Jones, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, said: “As an island nation, we are utterly dependent on the sea for our security and prosperity, and the City-class names have been chosen for the Type 26 to provide an enduring link between the Royal Navy and our great centres of commerce and industry.

“The name Glasgow brings with it a string of battle honours, stretching from the Arctic Circle to the South Atlantic. As one of the world’s most capable anti-submarine frigates, the Type 26 will carry the Royal Navy’s tradition of victory far into the future.”

Tony Douglas, Chief Executive Officer for Defence Equipment and Support, the MOD’s procurement organisation, said: “This is a very proud moment for all of those who have worked so hard to get the manufacture of the Type 26 underway.

“With the first steel cut today in Scotland and further work spread out across the UK supply chain the Type 26 programme is truly a national endeavour harnessing all our skills and knowledge to produce the best possible ships for the Royal Navy.”