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Type 26 Frigate Design


nuclear deterrent and the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers. The flexible design will allow the capabilities to be adapted throughout its lifespan to counter future threats.


The Type 26 frigates will be well equipped with bow and towed array sonar, medium range radar, Sea Ceptor air defence missiles, a strike silo providing further missile capability, and a 5” calibre main gun. Additionally, the mission bay capability allows for plug‐ in containers carrying equipment for specific tasks, such as disaster relief, and a flight deck big enough to take a Chinook – though the Fleet Air Arm’s Merlin and Wildcat helicopters will be more common.


OPV


In March, HMS Forth, the first of the five new River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels, was officially named during a ceremony at BAE Systems’ site at Scotstoun in Glasgow.


Once sea trials are complete, she will be formally handed over to the Royal Navy later this year, before embarking on vital counter‐terrorism, anti‐smuggling and maritime defence operations in defence of the UK’s interests around the world.


In April, work also officially started on HMS Spey, the fifth ship in the Fleet being built for the Royal Navy. Her four sister ships HMS Forth, HMS Medway, HMS Trent and HMS Tamar are now all either under construction or preparing for sea trials.


T31


Plans to acquire the new general purpose vessels were announced as part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review and the programme’s concept phase was launched in early 2016.


The Type 31e Frigate will enable the Royal Navy to increase its global footprint, increasing the total number of frigates and


Society of Maritime Industries Annual Review 2017 17


destroyers while releasing other complex warships such as the Type 26 and Type 45 to fulfil their key role of protecting the nation's nuclear deterrent and Maritime Task groups.


The Type 31e programme will deliver an affordable and exportable class of warships, with the adaptability to fulfil a variety of roles, meeting the broad operational demands of the Royal Navy whilst appealing to export customers.


Henry Parker CB Director Ship Acquisition, DE&S


HMS Forth, first of the Batch 2 River Class OPVs


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