BAE Systems held a steel-cutting ceremony for the future Type 26 frigate HMS Cardiff on Wednesday, August 14.
The second of a planned eight Type 26 or City-class ships ordered for the Royal Navy, the future Cardiff will be utilised primarily for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) but may also be deployed on counter-piracy and humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
The Type 26 vessels, each of which has an expected service life of at least 25 years, will replace the Type 23 ASW frigates in the Royal Navy.
The future Cardiff will be equipped with the Sea-Ceptor missile defence system, a 127-millimetre naval gun, bow and towed array sonars, and a torpedo-armed ASW helicopter.
