Type 26 Frigate
The Royal Navy’s next-generation ASW frigate — a quiet, acoustically optimized design that became one of the most successful Western surface-combatant exports of its era, selected by Australia, Canada, and Norway, and building for the UK as the City-class.
An acoustically quiet, ASW-optimised frigate designed for carrier and submarine escort — the parent of the “Global Combat Ship” family selected by three allied navies, with the first UK hull, HMS Glasgow, fitting out for sea trials.
Overview
The Type 26, designated the City-class in British service, is a next-generation anti-submarine warfare frigate developed for the Royal Navy and adapted as a common base design for Australia, Canada, and Norway. Its mission set is built around acoustic discretion for SSBN and carrier-group escort, supported by a large flexible-mission bay and a mixed VLS load of strike-length Mk 41 cells and quad-packed CAMM/Sea Ceptor air-defence missiles. The design has become one of the most widely ordered Western escort hulls in decades, with over 30 ships planned across four nations.
Development
The programme began as the Future Surface Combatant, evolved through the C1 design concept, and was formally launched as the Type 26 or Global Combat Ship. BAE Systems is prime contractor, with fabrication centred on Glasgow. Construction of the lead ship, HMS Glasgow, began in 2017 and the vessel was named at a ceremony in December 2022, according to Naval Technology. The United Kingdom’s Defence Equipment & Support organisation oversees delivery of eight City-class frigates, and Naval Technology reports that Glasgow is expected to begin sea trials in late 2026 ahead of a planned service entry around 2028.
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