New and advanced Type 26 warship HMS Cardiff ‘taking on her final profile’ as she takes step closer to fleet
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The frigate is the second of eight new warships being built which are specialised in hunting submarines
A new warship has taken a step closer to being part of the Royal Navy fleet.
Two masts have been expertly fitted to HMS Cardiff, the second of eight Type 26 frigates being built in Glasgow. The communications systems, manufactured and designed by STS Defence in Gosport, are vital to how the City-class frigate operates when it’s commissioned.
National Armaments Director Group Type 26 Pat Browning said: “Seeing HMS Cardiff take on her final profile is a proud moment for the whole Type 26 team. Fitting the masts in dry dock demonstrates that, together with industry, we are applying what has been learned from the programme to deliver these ships that will be the backbone of the Royal Navy.”
HMS Cardiff, alongside with her sister ship HMS Glasgow, are in the fitting out phase of the BAE Systems shipbuilding programme. This is where vital parts are installed on the frigate, from sophisticated weaponry to propulsion systems.
The port mast will provide the ship with 4G connectivity, shore-to-shore satellite communications and a link-up with the GPS navigational satellite system. Its starboard counterpart hosts UHF and VHF communications. They’re designed to prevent any interference with the ship’s systems.
STS Defence, based in Mumby Road, secured a £12.96m contract with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to produce and install the integrated UHF SATCOM and EFMTE 4.2 systems. The contract will run until May 2033 and four ships will be fitted with the new masts.
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A company spokeswoman previously said: “This contract is significant to STS Defence, both from a financial perspective and also cementing our place as the expert contractor in maintaining UHF satellite communications across the Royal Navy fleet.
“STS Defence employs more than 200 people in Gosport, this contract will help to maintain job security for a number of years as the contract is delivered over the next eight years.”
These City-class warships will primarily be tasked with tracking and hunting down submarines in the North Atlantic and High North. This will be part of a hybrid navy, where conventional warships will fight alongside autonomous systems and drones.
HMS Cardiff is expected to enter the fleet in the early 2030s, with HMS Glasgow being available by 2028 at the earliest. The pressure is on to make the frigates available, as there are only five Duke-class Type 23 frigates remaining. Many of these are expected to be retired before the new warships are ready.