BAE Systems Starts Building UK's Second Type 26 Frigate

BAE Systems has cut the first steel for its second Type 26 Frigate christened "HMS Cardiff," marking the formal start of production for the warship for the UK Royal Navy.

Type 26 is designed to deliver the most advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability to the Royal Navy. Each Type 26 will be equipped with a range of capabilities including the Sea Ceptor missile defence system, a 5-inch medium calibre gun, flexible mission bay, Artisan 997 Medium Range Radar, powerful bow and towed array sonars and a vertical launch silo capable of hosting a variety of weapons.

This ceremony for the second of the Type 26 class comes two years after steel was cut on the first in class, HMS Glasgow. Progress on HMS Glasgow continues with over 50% of the ship now in production and remains on track to enter service in the mid-2020s.