BAE is launching the second Type 26 or City-class frigate, HMS Cardiff, by a tow-down from the river to deep water to head towards Scotstoun for fitting.
With HMS Glasgow, the first ship, undergoing its fitting process, HMS Cardiff is meeting the water following the completion of construction. The build process for each ship involves its structure being completed by Govan fabricators and steelworkers, who construct the units before they are assembled into two main blocks.
HMS Cardiff will be the last Type 26 to have this initial work partly constructed outside, with Govan becoming capable of performing all construction work inside. The ships are outfitted in Scotstoun and proceed to testing.
Type 26 will serve as ASW frigates in Royal Navy service with improved air defence capabilities compared to Type 23 and provision for land attack with BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles.
The frigates are armed with 32 Mk41 VLS cells, a 127 mm Mk45 naval gun, and two Phalanx 20 mm CIWS. The service has also ordered Type 31 frigates to complement Type 26 frigates as general-purpose platforms.
The Royal Navy will commission eight City-class frigates, and the first ship, HMS Glasgow, is expected to be commissioned in 2028. In addition to the U.K., Australia and Canada will commission their versions of Type 26 frigates as Hunter-class and River-class, respectively.
