RN Frigates: Type 26 City Class

[Pelican]

Plasan starts construction of naval armour protection for BAE Systems Type 26 frigate

The Israeli based vehicle manufacturer Plasan officially announced the start of the Type 26 Frigate's armour production, a key milestone in the armour delivery. The ships will be built by BAE Systems in Glasgow, Scotland and are considered among the world’s most advanced combat ships.
For the record, in February 2018, Plasan has signed a contract with BAE Systems, for the armouring of Type 26 Global Combat Ships for the UK Royal Navy. The first Type 26 is due to enter service in the mid-2020s.
During the last few years, Plasan has been developing armour systems to address the protection requirements of modern maritime armoured vessels.
These new advanced lightweight armour systems allowed Plasan to win major competitions held by Naval OEMs and Plasan is today teamed to design and produce unique armour systems for new and modern designs of Frigates and Destroyers. Plasan's new advanced armour systems are:
- Having High Protection Performance;
- Lightweight Armor Solutions;
- Mature Armor Systems – TRL7-8;
- Cost-effective solutions;
- Fully compliant to the most demanding maritime environmental requirements and standards;
- Successfully tested and certified for blast shock loads;
- Applying a unique and advanced installation approach – allows to install the armour without scanning and/or templating every compartment;
- Armour solutions are available for all STANAG4569 Vol.1 threat levels (levels 1 through 6) and also for specific threats mixture according to users' requirements.
In the past, Israel’s armour specialist Plasan has also developed, designed and delivered 3 unique armour shipsets for the new US Navy DDG1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers.
These armour elements are often constructed during the shipbuilding process.

Source which contains images is:
https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.p ... UwHYp1CQRs

[ivorthediver]

So what do we know about this Plasan naval armour we are about to have fitted please ?

Is it sprayed on, glued on ,bolted on never heard of it before

[Pelican]

So what do we know about this Plasan naval armour we are about to have fitted please ?

Is it sprayed on, glued on ,bolted on never heard of it before

Appears to be at design stage Ivor - https://www.naval-technology.com/news/p ... -frigates/

[ivorthediver]

Thanks for looking David , is this a derivative of ceramic armour

[Little h]

FIRST T26 COMMUNICATIONS MASTS BUILT AND ACCEPTED

Since 2017, STS Defence has been the leading design and development of the configurable communications masts for the Royal Navy’s future Type 26, City Class frigates.
Last week, a significant milestone was achieved as STS Defence, the Design Authority for the masts, presented and led the structural factory acceptance test (FAT) of the first twin masts, in the presence of the Type 26 Prime Contractors, BAE Systems and MoD, alongside Rohde & Schwarz, Mainstay and Lloyds Register.

Continues at:
https://www.sts-defence.com/first-t26-c ... _FM-CE1TqU
Also - https://www.sts-defence.com/sts-defence ... V6apXDWCT8

The image that was included in the UKDJ article titled:-

STS Defence finish first Type 26 Frigate communications masts
By George Allison - April 17, 2019

Screenshot of Type26-accepted-e1553704914148.png

[Little h]

Configurable Communications Masts

A key mission enabler to any modern warship is the ability to function seamlessly within multiple communications networks, using a wide range of bearers. Whilst competing for valuable deck space with other platform sensors, weapons, machinery and landing areas, antenna configurations must be optimal with respect to coverage and operational efficiency.

STS Defence is contracted by Rohde & Schwarz to lead the design and development of the configurable communications masts on the Royal Navy’s future Type 26, City class frigate.

These twin masts will be mounted above the mission bay to provide space for a variety of antennas and isolation screens.

DDtTp9PXoAIYX-O.jpg

The starboard mast will predominantly be used for U/VHF communications, with 4G, GPS and ship-to-shore satellite communications antennas on the port mast.

T26-1-scaled-e1574672277894.jpg

The challenge is to optimise deck space by mounting communication and sensor antennas on structural masts, delivering continuous 360° coverage and providing the required frequency isolation to manage electromagnetic interference, whilst allowing technology to evolve through obsolescence, design changes and upgrades with minimum impact.

Extensive computer modelling of the masts’ RF performance and structural characteristics has been performed which has led to the achievement of Lloyd’s accreditation.

Source; STSdefense where the remainder of the article can be read.

[ivorthediver]

Thats a novel collection of antenna shapes and configurations lads presumably with duplication inbuilt

[Pelican]

Next batch of Type 26 Frigates to be ordered ‘in the early 2020s’

The procurement of the Batch 2 Type 26 Frigates is expected to happen “in the early 2020s” according to the Government.
Luke Pollard, the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs recently asked via a written Parliamentary question:

“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to order the next batch of Type 26 frigates.”

Pollard was directed to a statement made earlier in the year by Baroness Goldie which states:

“The procurement of the Batch 2 Type 26 Frigates will be subject to a separate approval and contract which is expected to be awarded in the early 2020s.”

Eight Type 26 Frigates are to be built in total with three in the first batch.

Ordering in batches is common for projects of this size around the world and was last seen with the Royal Navy for the Type 45 Destroyers and recent Offshore Patrol Vessels. The Type 45s first batch order was for three vessels for example.

Last year, the next batch of Type 26 Frigate propulsion motors were ordered. At the same time Nadia Savage, director of the Type 26 programme, was quoted as saying:

“We will enter into the negotiation phase in the next 18 to 20 months. As we progress through the maturity of the design, it allows us to commit to the next batch and the timeframe around them.”

Asked by The Scotsman newspaper if the company had a contingency plan for any political uncertainty regarding their order and build, Ms Savage said:

“The political situation will play out. We can’t control that, but what we can control is that entry into service. We understand what the navy’s requirements are and we can work back from that and engage with stakeholders when we need to.”

The Type 26 Frigates will be named Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast, Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle, Edinburgh and London.

[ivorthediver]

Yes David whilst I am a staunch Navy enthusiast , I can see the uncertainty that the current pandemic is casting over events and commitment , but ever hopeful of success

[Pelican]

The Royal Navy’s Future Frigates – An Analysis

THE TYPE 26 FRIGATE
Commenced in 1998, under what was then known as the Future Surface Combatant (FSC) programme, by March 2010 this had developed to become the Global Combat Ship programme following the announcement of a four-year £127M design contract being awarded to BAE Systems. The Type 26 City class will feature some considerable improvements over the Type 23. Weighing 5,400 tons (8,000 tons at full load) the Type 26 is twice the tonnage of its predecessor and follows a pattern set by the RN of building ships of at least double the size and weight of those they succeed.

THE TYPE 31 FRIGATE
Announced as part of the 2015 SDSR, the Type 31 will comprise a class of five vessels, described as light frigates, replacing the cancelled Type 26 frigates. A contract for the ships was formally awarded to Babcock Group on 15 November 2019 for their Arrowhead 140 design. Based on the Danish Iver Huitfeldt class the Type 31 weighs 5,700 tonnes making them heavier than the Type 23, hence it is misleading to describe them as ‘light frigates’. Compared to the BAES 3,677 ton Leander design submitted in competition with the Arrowhead 140, the Babcock ship ensures greater growth potential for adding weapons and sensors in the future. Costing an average of £250M per vessel there is the possibility that more will be built and the RN’s surface fleet expanded.

The lengthy article containing images etc. is at:
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/the-roy ... CeR5ulUElg