UK: First pictures released of Type 26 frigate HMS Cardiff.

According to a PR published by BAE Systems on June 21, 2023, the Type 26 (City class) frigate, HMS Cardiff, has made a notable appearance on the Govan skyline as its forward end emerges from BAE Systems' ship build hall.
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Future Royal Navy's Type 26 frigate HMS Cardiff. (Picture source: BAE Systems)

This development represents a significant milestone in the program's endeavor to equip the Royal Navy with the most sophisticated anti-submarine warfare capability.

In the upcoming days, the ship's aft section is expected to follow suit, with engineers gearing up to assemble the entire ship on the hardstand at the Glasgow shipyard, located on the River Clyde.

After the assembly, additional structural work will be carried out on the hardstand before HMS Cardiff is floated and moved along the Clyde to BAE Systems' Scotstoun facility in 2024.

BAE Systems' Scotstoun facility is currently outfitting the first-of-class Type 26 frigate, HMS Glasgow. Construction of the remaining eight Type 26 frigates is on schedule, with the completion anticipated by the mid-2030s. HMS Glasgow is slated to be the first to be delivered to the Royal Navy in the mid-2020s.

About the frigate

Boasting a displacement of roughly 6,900 tons and extending 149.9 meters in length, this state-of-the-art vessel asserts its formidable presence in the naval realm.

Her impressive architecture is powered by a Combined Diesel Electric or Gas (CODLOG) configuration, comprising one Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine and four MTU Type 20V 4000 M53B high-speed diesel generators, supplemented by two electric motors.

Capable of attaining speeds beyond 26 knots and a range that exceeds 7,000 nautical miles when using the electric-motor drive, the HMS Cardiff is purpose-built for sustained operations.

Her beam of 20.8 meters provides enough room for two landing crafts or boats, alongside accommodations for a crew of 157, expandable up to 208 personnel.

The ship is fitted with advanced sensory and processing systems like the Type 997 Artisan 3D radar, Kelvin Hughes SharpEye navigation radar, and the Terma SCANTER 6000 2D X-Band navigation radar.

She also accommodates a Sonar 2087 towed array sonar and an Ultra Electronics Type 2150 bow sonar for unparalleled underwater detection capabilities.

The frigate's formidable armament configuration includes a 5-inch 62-calibre Mk 45 naval gun, two 30mm DS30M Mk2 guns, and two Phalanx CIWS, along with miniguns and general-purpose machine guns.

She also houses two VLS systems with a total capacity of 48 cells for Sea Ceptor anti-air missiles and an additional 24-cell Mark 41 VLS for various missiles.

In terms of air capacity, HMS Cardiff can carry a Wildcat or AgustaWestland Merlin helicopter, featuring a Chinook-capable flight deck, an enclosed hangar, and facilities for UAVs.