TYPE 26.

[E28]

It is now improbable that the next generation front line warship for the RN will inherit the long lived 4.5" as its principal weapon.
The design for this class is moving on apace with the choice for their single main gun between the Oto Melara 127/54 LW and the BAE 5" 62 cal Mk 45, should this larger calibre be selected. The BAE AGS is a non starter. Both feature top end shore fire support which is very high on the agenda for such guns and their perceived littoral support roles, together with a wide variety of shell types. Smaller calibre, 3" or 76mm are not sufficient in this role.
Once orders for first of class are announced, it is probable their construction will follow the procedure adopted for the Type 45's and the 2 carriers.
Much more detail of these ships will emerge during 2012.

[E28]

The entirely new missile system for the class has now been selected.
Sea Ceptor will be developed over the next few years, with 1st fits to the RN's existing type 23's.
http://www.mbda-systems.com gives much more, then follow the links.
Or, type in Sea Ceptor for a multitude of reports, and comment.

[E28]

A new SSM system too.
Not just surface to surface but also having good surface to land capabilities.
Again, an MBDA development and which details are sketchy at present.
Looks as the 26 will have a pretty formidable and totally new weapons suite.
All this needs total flexibility to meet the export markets and demands of those navies known to be interested in this exceptional warship.
This is the ship where the UK can really achieve great things.
I shall call her Warspite. Time will tell.

[E28]

Now for a big negative.
From the supposed safe hands of the conseratives who have traditionally been the ally of our armed forces.

The defence secretary Philip Hammond has stated that once the tenders for the first ships are put out, that,

It is not our decision where BAE builds the Type 26s.
It's a commercial decision they will have to take.

By implication there will be no obligation for BAE, should they be successful, or any other bidder, British or Foreign, to construct any of the Type 26s in British yards, as with the 4 new RFA Mars tankers ordered earlier this year.

The monopoly on warship building that BAE, in its current form, enjoys should be a matter for serious concern for the future of warship building in the UK.

Additionally, once the 2 new carriers are built, the demands on warship capable yards will dramatically decline and with it, all the experience garnered over many decades. This occured with the Astute submarine programme, which has left it wallowing way over time and budget.

That is not taking into account the forthcoming political issues yet to be determined in Scotland.

[E28]

Numerous navies, Worldwide, have expressed interest in the basic criteria for the Type 26.
I will not go into details, here, now.
Do not want to pre empt all the hype and hope.

Patently a design which will in due course serve other navies. Australia, Canada and Brazil are being fully kept up to speed. Some serious orders will develop here in due course and they will not be built in the UK.

Glasgow will be lead ship in this a new City class followed by Cardiff and Belfast.

[E28]

Success of the highest order with the announcement today Australia have chosen the Type 26 Glasgow class as the basis for their new Hunter class.

With tenders from Spain and Italy to contend with the obvious and sensible decision has been made for a ship for the future. Australia is spending big on defence of late and it would not have escaped anyone's notice they plan to construct 9. Our British Navy will get 8 under current plans.

The BAE bid, as with the others, had to conform to very strict development and construction demands. Crucially the ships will be built in Australia, by Australians with Australian steel and much else besides. No foreign yard will be involved at all.

Well done Australia. We look forward to the future HMAS Hunter, Flinders, Tasman and their 6 further sisters serving your nation in future decades, hopefully with HMS Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast and their 5 sisters.

[davidwat]

The main thing is that the in house naval planners and designers don't make the same monumental cock-ups that they made with the type 45's, to the extent that they are now almost unusable, and unused, until they are re-engined. For the new Defence Minister to come out and publicly demand another £20 billion is quite outrageous. If he got his in house problems sorted out he probably wouldn't have to ask for sums of this amount.