The Royal Navy’s new backbone for hunting submarines
On the River Clyde, the Royal Navy’s next frontline frigate is taking shape. The Type 26 frigate—also called the City-class—is built for one job above all others: stalking submarines in the North Atlantic and beyond. It does that through quiet design, modern sensors, and a flexible layout that can adapt as threats change. Eight ships are on order for the UK, replacing the dedicated anti-submarine part of the Type 23 fleet later this decade.
BAE Systems is leading construction at its Govan and Scotstoun yards in Glasgow. The design sits around 6,900 tonnes, with a hull and internal layout shaped to cut vibration and noise—vital when you want to hear a submarine before it hears you. The powertrain uses CODLOG (combined diesel-electric or gas): electric motors for silent cruising, a Rolls‑Royce MT30 gas turbine for sprint speed. It’s a proven setup for anti-submarine warfare because it lets the ship stay quiet for long stretches.
The weapons and sensors reflect that mission. Sea Ceptor provides local air defence against fast jets and sea-skimming missiles. A 127mm (5-inch) naval gun gives the ship reach for naval gunfire support. Strike-length vertical launch cells are fitted for heavier missiles, allowing the Navy to add land-attack or long-range anti-ship weapons as needed. For underwater work, the ship pairs a hull-mounted sonar with a powerful towed array, and it’s designed to operate hand-in-hand with Merlin helicopters carrying Sting Ray torpedoes.
The deck and mission spaces are designed for flexibility. The flight deck is big enough to land a Chinook, though the hangar is sized for a Merlin or Wildcat and can host unmanned air systems. A mission bay sits amidships to carry containerized gear—mine-hunting drones, commando kit, disaster relief stores, or extra boats. That modular approach means the same hull can switch roles without a trip back to the yard.
Durability has been a design priority. Compared with the Type 23s, the new hull uses thicker plating and improved corrosion protection. The combat system runs on an open architecture to make upgrades easier over a 30-year life. In short, it’s built to last in cold, rough water and to keep pace with rapid changes in missiles, sensors, and software.
- Displacement: about 6,900 tonnes
- Propulsion: CODLOG with MT30 gas turbine and electric motors
- Primary roles: anti-submarine warfare, air defence, surface strike (when fitted)
- Armament: Sea Ceptor, 127mm gun, strike-length VLS (for future missile fits), medium guns, decoys
- Aviation: Merlin/Wildcat helicopter, large flight deck, UAS support
- Mission bay: modular payloads for varied operations
Where the programme stands now—and what comes next
The first three ships—HMS Glasgow, HMS Cardiff, and HMS Belfast—anchor the initial batch. Steel was cut on Glasgow in 2017, with Cardiff and Belfast following. A second contract placed in 2022 took the total to eight ships, securing work on the Clyde well into the 2030s. BAE Systems says the programme supports thousands of jobs across the UK supply chain, with the bulk in Scotland.
Build strategy is split between block construction at Govan and outfitting at Scotstoun. To speed work and shield it from weather delays, BAE is adding a new covered build hall at Govan so two frigates can be assembled side by side. That industrial change is a quiet but important part of keeping the schedule on track as the yard ramps up from the first-of-class learning curve to repeat builds.
HMS Glasgow, the lead ship, has moved through major assembly, outfitting, and systems installation. Shore integration facilities are being used to test software and combat systems before they go to sea, reducing risk at trials. The Navy expects the first Type 26 to enter service later this decade, with follow-on ships arriving at a steadier pace as the line matures.
Costs have risen across complex shipbuilding due to inflation, energy prices, and supply-chain pressures. The UK’s approach has been to fix batches, widen the supplier base where possible, and lock in longer-lead items earlier. Training pipelines for engineering and digital skills have also been expanded to handle the series build and the higher digital content in modern naval systems.
Exports have turned the Type 26 into a global program. Australia’s Hunter-class and Canada’s Canadian Surface Combatant are both based on the British hull, adapted with their own sensors and weapons. That creates a larger community of users, more stable supply lines, and the chance to share upgrades over time. It also means the design is being refined through three national builds, which tends to shake out issues faster.
For the Royal Navy, the timing matters. Type 23 frigates are ageing, and their towed-array variants are in high demand for North Atlantic patrols, the High North, and task group work with carriers. Type 26 is meant to pick up that load with better range, quieter propulsion, and more flexible mission spaces. It will sit alongside the general-purpose Type 31s, which handle presence, patrol, and security tasks, freeing Type 26 to focus on high-end sub-hunting and escort duties.
A few practical changes suggest how the ships will be used. The aviation fit and big deck give commanders options for long-range dipping sonar sorties, sea control with Wildcats, and drone trials. The strike-length launchers give room for future missiles without structural changes. And the mission bay makes humanitarian work and mine countermeasures easier to bolt on, which is useful in real-world deployments where a warship often has to do more than one thing on the same cruise.
The anti-submarine fight is also joint by design. Type 26 is meant to operate with RAF P-8A Poseidon aircraft and allied ASW assets. The ship’s quiet electric drive and sensors give it endurance; the aircraft bring reach and speed. Data links and modern combat systems tie that picture together so a contact found by one platform can be tracked and engaged by another.
Looking ahead, the key tests are integration and tempo: proving the combat system at sea, validating the propulsion across long transits, and turning out hulls consistently from the Clyde. If the Navy and industry hold the line on that, the City-class will give the UK a quiet edge in a noisy ocean—and a frigate design that can grow with the threat for decades.