By Moderator, 7 May 2025
In case you’re wondering …. An update to the Type 26 program given in the British Parliament indicated that five of the eight planned frigates are now under construction. HMS Glasgow and second-in-class HMS Cardiff are in drydock for outfitting, while unit and block assembly on HMS Belfast (third-in-class) and HMS Birmingham (fourth-in-class) continues, and first steel has been cut on the fifth ship HMS Sheffield. The update says HMS Glasgow is forecast to achieve initial operating capability in 2028, and construction of all eight frigates is expected to be complete by the mid-2030s. The timeline for HMS Glasgow shows a more than 10-year long process to deliver the first Type 26 into service, and this seems likely to be the timeline for the second ship as well. The Type 26 frigates will replace eight of the Type 23 frigates currently in service. The remaining five Type 23 frigates are being replaced by five new Type 31 frigates, also currently being built.
Image: A computer-generated image shows eight Type 26 figures. The image accompanied press releases announcing the contract award for the remaining five ships of the Type 26 program on 15 November, 2022. Credit: BAE Systems
2 thoughts on “Type 26 Construction Journey”
To note the 8 Type 26s will replace the 8 ASW Type 23s while the 5 type 31s will replace the 5 General Purpose T23s
The first T31 should be in commission late 2026 early 2027 ahead of the T26s
The 10 yrs has to be a bit concerning even if BAE was slow rolling construction. Hopefully we can be quicker coming off a hot building run and an assembly hall ready earlier plus lessons learned from the UK and AUS even.
Fraser 2025-2035, Halifax 1992 43 Years old
Saint Laurent 2036, Toronto 1993 43
Mackenzie 2037, Vancouver 1993 44
#4 2038 Quebec 1994 44
#5 2039 Montreal 1994 45
#6 2040 Regina 1994 46
#7 2041 Fredericton 1994 47
#8 2042 Calgary 1995 47
#9 2043 Charlottetown 1995 48
#10 2044 Winnipeg 1996 48
#11 2045 St Johns 1996 49
#12 2046 Ottawa 1996 50
#13 2047
#14 2048
#15 2049
from 43 to 50 years old at replacement with the youngest basically 40 yrs old at the start of replacement. This is going to be a problem.