Article Posted on : - Mar 26, 2010

An artist's conception of the Type 26 combat ship for Royal Navy. A BAE Systems Photo

LONDON (BNS): The Defenec Ministry of UK has awarded BAE Systems a £127 million (US$ 190 mn) contract to design the Royal Navy's Type 26 class combat ship.

The assessment phase contract was signed on Thursday under which BAE will consider design proposals for the Type 26 next generation multi-role combat ships which are slated to replace the Type 22 and 23 frigates used by the Royal Navy.

The new class of warships will provide support for land operations as well as undertaking other key tasks such as anti-submarine warfare, the Defence Ministry said.

“The Assessment Phase will play a critical part in ensuring that the necessary capabilities identified during the Strategic Defence Review are incorporated into the Type 26 design,” it said.

The first of the Type 26 frigates is scheduled to enter service with the Royal Navy in 2010 during which the Type 22 and Type 23 class ships will start resigning from service.