City Class

Type 26 Frigate

The Type 26 Global Combat Ship is a 21st Century warship that will replace the Type 23 frigate as the workhorse of the Fleet, undertaking the Royal Navy's three core roles - warfighting, maritime security and international engagement - on the world stage. 

 

At a glance

8 frigates

In the fleet

Personnel

161 crew

On board

Range

7,000 nautical miles

Total range

top speed

26+ knots

Top speed

The future of at-sea deterrent

Eight Type 26s will replace the eight dedicated anti-submarine frigates, alongside the new T31 Inspiration class of general-purpose light frigates. The first steel was cut on the Navy’s next-generation frigate in the summer of 2017.

First and foremost, the 26s are being designed to protect the nation’s strategic deterrent and new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers from hostile submarines. The ships will be expected to deal missions across the full spectrum of Royal Navy operations – complex combat scenarios, counter piracy, as well as humanitarian and disaster relief.

Weapons and capabilities

Gunnery

Close Range Weapons

 30mm Small Calibre Guns and Phalanx Close in Weapons Systems.

Medium Calibre Gun

5” Gun to provide enhanced ability to deliver effects and support land forces ashore.

Missile Systems

Missile Systems

Vertical launch missile silos will provide advanced offensive and defensive capabilities.

Anti-Submarine Warfare

Anti-Submarine Warfare

Advanced sonar capabilities will make T26 a formidable anti-submarine warfare platform.

Embarked Aviation

Embarked aviation

Maritime Force Protection and airborne anti-submarine warfare capabilities via Wildcat and Merlin helicopters. The flight deck is also large enough to accommodate a CH-47 Chinook to support Ship to Objective Manoeuvre.

Integrated Mission Bay

Integrated Mission Bay

Provides inherent flexibility and multi-role capabilities.

Being a part of the Surface Fleet

Lt Jenkins, 25

Warfare officer

The job may be intense, but it’s incredibly rewarding. I also get to work on some of the most advanced warships on the planet.

Click on a location to explore our operations

Middle East

Kipion

Units of the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary have been on patrol in the Gulf since October 1980, after the Iran/Iraq conflict of that year, and more recently operations have extended further south with the increase in piracy off the Somalia coast. 

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Bay of Biscay

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 is a multinational, integrated maritime force - made up of vessels from various allied nations, training and operating together as a single team - that is permanently available to NATO to perform a wide range of tasks, from participating in exercises to crisis response and real world operational missions.

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Middle East

Kipion MCMV

In support of wider British efforts in the region, minehunters are providing the capability to conduct route survey, sea-bed clearance, and mine clearance operations all over the Gulf. The operation provides a visible naval presence in a region where stability and good relations with local nations is vital. Much of the UK’s oil and gas, as well as other products, come from the Gulf region and as such these efforts are paramount to our economy.

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Arctic

Nato MCMV Force

The RN has always supplied an MCMV to one of the two NATO Mine Counter-Measures Squadrons. These are six-month deployments as part of the NATO Standing MCM Groups and will generally be around the coasts of Northern Europe or the Mediterranean depending upon the squadron in which the RN ship is working. 

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North Sea

Standing Nato Maritime Group 1

Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 is a multinational, integrated maritime force - made up of vessels from various allied nations, training and operating together as a single team - that is permanently available to NATO to perform a wide range of tasks, from participating in exercises to crisis response and real world operational missions.

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United Kingdom

Fishery Protection

Protecting the British fishing industry and safeguarding the nation's fishing stocks. 

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Gibraltar

Gibraltar Squadron

Conducting security patrols within British Gibraltar territorial waters, and providing protection to warships.

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Antarctic

Antarctic patrol

To provide a UK sovereign presence in the British Antarctic Territory, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and their surrounding maritime areas, to underpin their security and good governance; and meet the UK treaty obligations and exercise rights under the Antarctic Treaty System through inspections, hydrographic charting and support to scientific research.

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Mediterranean

Operation Sophia

A European Union Naval Force operation to counter arms bound for Libya, in support of the UN arms embargo. 

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