Devonport to be base for new naval frigates

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson on the deck of HMS Montrose at Devonport, Credit: Steve Parsons/PA

The Royal Navy’s next-generation Type 26 frigates will be based in Devonport. The eight Type 26 warships will start being delivered to the Royal Navy from the mid-2020s.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson made the announcement in a visit to Plymouth this morning. The new 6,900-tonne frigates will be world-class anti-submarine warships and will provide cutting-edge protection for the likes of the UK’s nuclear deterrent and the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.

Devonport employs 2,500 people, supporting around 400 local firms and generating around 10% of Plymouth’s income. It is a key part of defence’s huge footprint in the South West, where the MOD spends £5.1bn with industry – more than in any other part of the country.

The eight Type 26s will replace the current anti-submarine warfare Type 23 frigates. The first Type 26 ships have already been ordered for £3.7 billion from BAE Systems’ yards on the Clyde.

A Type 23 frigate - they'll be superseded by the Type 26. Credit: MoD/PA