The UK’s Ministry of Defence on Monday offered its first look at the basic specification of the UK’s next generation warship, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship.
The multi-mission warship, which is due to come into service around 2021, will be used by the Royal Navy in combat and counter-piracy operations, as well as in support of humanitarian and disaster relief work around the world.
Since 2010 the MoD has been working with BAE Systems to determine the ship’s basic capabilities and baseline design.
With a basic displacement of around 5,400 tonnes, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship will be around 148m in length, and one of the most advanced vessels in the Royal Navy’s fleet. It is expected to feature: vertical missile silos capable of housing a range of different weapons; a Medium Calibre gun; a hangar to accommodate a Merlin or Wildcat Helicopter and a Flexible Mission Space for Unmanned Air, surface and underwater Vehicles, or additional boats; and the most advanced sensors available to the fleet.
Computer Generated Image (CGI) of the basic specification of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship (T26 GCS). Image: MoD/BAE System’s
The 13-ship T26 GCS program is one of several projects, including the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, highlighting the United Kingdom’s still vibrant shipbuilding industry. The GCS project is expected to create thousands of jobs over the course of its development.
“The Type 26 Global Combat Ship will be the backbone of the Royal Navy for decades to come. It is designed to be adaptable and easily upgraded, reacting to threats as they change.
“I am delighted the programme has been endorsed by the investment approvals committee. The build of these vessels will secure thousands of skilled jobs across the UK, helping to sustain an industrial surface warship capability.” -Peter Luff, The Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology.
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrived in Norway’s capital, wrapping up a month-long joint exercise with NATO in the Norwegian and Barents Sea in a show of strength. The drills in the Sub-Arctic and Arctic region serve to reinforce NATO’s High North posture. A flotilla of naval vessels, including Norwegian frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl, escorted the aircraft carrier into Oslo fjord.
U.S. naval forces continue to step up their engagement in the Arctic. While the Coast Guard now has two icebreakers operating in the Bering Sea simultaneously for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. Navy together with Norwegian allied forces dispatched a four-vessel flotilla to the North Cape at the very top of Norway.
By Idrees Ali, Patricia Zengerle and Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, Aug 29 (Reuters) – A large buildup of U.S. naval forces in and around the Southern Caribbean has officials in Caracas and experts in the...
August 30, 2025
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