HMS Glasgow first new Type 26 frigate to enter service strengthening British Navy anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

HMS Glasgow, the lead ship of the British Royal Navy’s new generation of Type 26 City-class frigates, was officially named on May 22, 2025, during a high-profile ceremony at BAE Systems’ Scotstoun shipyard in Glasgow. The event, which drew the attendance of key defense officials and the Princess of Wales, also served as the platform for the UK Ministry of Defence to confirm that HMS Glasgow will be the first Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigate to enter operational service. Expected to be fully active by 2028, HMS Glasgow will provide the backbone of the Royal Navy’s capability to safeguard its nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers against underwater threats.
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The HMS Glasgow at BAE Systems shipyard during naming ceremony marking its role as the first Type 26 frigate to enter service and lead the Royal Navy’s next-generation anti-submarine warfare fleet (Picture source: UK MoD)

The Type 26 program—originally known as the Global Combat Ship—was initiated to replace the British Royal Navy’s aging fleet of Type 23 ASW frigates. The program officially took shape in the early 2010s, culminating in a £3.7 billion contract awarded to BAE Systems in June 2017 for the construction of the first three vessels: HMS Glasgow, HMS Cardiff, and HMS Belfast. This was followed by a second contract in November 2022, worth £4.2 billion, for the remaining five ships: HMS Birmingham, HMS Sheffield, HMS Newcastle, HMS Edinburgh, and HMS London. With a total investment of £7.9 billion, the Type 26 program is a cornerstone of Britain’s naval modernization and is being executed entirely at BAE’s shipyards on the River Clyde.

The Type 26 is a purpose-built anti-submarine warfare frigate, optimized for detecting, tracking, and countering submarine threats in deep ocean and littoral environments. It has a full-load displacement of approximately 8,000 tonnes and a length of nearly 150 meters. Its propulsion is based on a Combined Diesel-Electric or Gas (CODLOG) system, featuring a Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine, four MTU 20V 4000 M53B diesel generators, and two electric motors. This configuration allows the ship to operate with reduced acoustic signatures—critical for submarine-hunting—and achieve speeds exceeding 26 knots, with a range over 7,000 nautical miles using its electric drive.

The HMS Glasgow has a standard crew of 157 with accommodation for up to 208 personnel. It is equipped with advanced sensors, including the Type 997 Artisan 3D radar, Sonar 2087 towed array, and Ultra Electronics Type 2150 bow sonar, providing superior underwater detection capability. For navigation and situational awareness, it features the Kelvin Hughes SharpEye and Terma SCANTER 6000 radar systems.

The ship’s armament includes a 12-cell Vertical Launch System (VLS) housing up to 48 Sea Ceptor anti-air missiles and a 24-cell Mark 41 VLS for cruise and anti-ship weapons such as the Tomahawk and Naval Strike Missile. It also mounts a 5-inch Mk 45 naval gun, two 30 mm DS30M Mk2 guns, Phalanx CIWS, and multiple machine guns for close-in defense. A large flight deck and hangar support operations of either a Merlin or Wildcat helicopter, with facilities to host UAVs and handle larger aircraft like the Chinook.

A key innovation is the ship’s flexible mission bay, capable of deploying unmanned vehicles, additional boats, or mission-specific equipment. This design allows the frigate to support various roles beyond ASW, including humanitarian operations, maritime interdiction, and disaster relief, while maintaining its core anti-submarine warfare focus.

The strategic importance of the Type 26 extends internationally. The design has been adopted by Australia and Canada for their future frigate programs—up to six Hunter-class for the Royal Australian Navy and up to fifteen River-class for the Royal Canadian Navy. This has transformed the Type 26 into a 29-ship global program, enhancing allied naval interoperability and creating sustained industrial opportunities for UK defense suppliers.

HMS Glasgow is the first of a new class and also a technological and strategic benchmark for the future British Royal Navy. Its entry into service marks a pivotal advancement in Britain’s ability to project power, protect its maritime interests, and cooperate with key global partners.