Three modern frigates are currently being built in Glasgow for the British Navy. The government in London is now announcing the construction of five more City-class warships. The move is justified with the “increasing threat from Russia”.
The British government wants to spend 4.2 billion pounds, about 4.8 billion euros, on five new warships. "The UK and its allies are taking steps to strengthen their security in the face of an increasing threat from Russia," the government said.
The spending is part of a program that already has three ships under construction. According to the statement, the eight City-class frigates (English designation: Type 26) are to be completed by the mid-2030s. The ships are built in Glasgow by the armaments company BAE Systems. They are intended to replace twelve outdated Duke-class (Type 23) frigates. The first warship, HMS Glasgow, is due to be launched later this year and handed over to the Royal Navy in the mid-2020s.
"Russia's actions endanger us all," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement. "While we are providing the support the Ukrainian people need, we are also harnessing the breadth and depth of British expertise. That includes building the next generation of British warships."
According to the British Navy, the City-class frigates are designed for anti-submarine and air defense and will also serve as escort protection for the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. Accordingly, each ship has a crew of 118 men. The maximum speed is given as more than 26 knots, the range as 7,000 nautical miles.
