LONDON, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Defense Secretary Michael Fallon announced Sunday the signing of a contract worth around 4.42 billion U.S. dollars start building a new fleet of frigates for the Royal Navy.
Manufacture of the first three of the new highly capable warships will secure approximately 1,700 skilled shipbuilding jobs in Scotland and 1,700 jobs throughout the supply chain across Britain until 2035, said the Ministry of Defense (MOD) in London.
Fallon said:"The Type 26 Frigate is a cutting-edge warship, combining the expertise of the British shipbuilding industry with the excellence of the Royal Navy.
"We will cut steel on the first ship later this month, a hugely significant milestone that delivers on our commitment to maintain our global naval power. These ships will be a force to be reckoned with, there to protect our powerful new aircraft carriers and helping keep British interests safe across the world."
The MOD said backed by a rising defense budget and a 232 billion U.S. dollar equipment plan, the Type 26 program will bring vast economic benefits to Scotland and the wider Britain.
The investment will secure hundreds of skilled jobs at BAE Systems on the Clyde in Scotland for the next twenty years, and thousands of jobs in the supply chain across Britain.
Each of the Type 26 Global Combat Ships will be multi-mission warships optimised for anti-submarine warfare.
They will have a range of 13,000 kilometers and carry a crew of 67, with accommodation for more than 200 people. Each will also have a flight deck for helicopters.
The contract for the second batch of five ships is expected to be negotiated in the early 2020s, paving the way to sustain further jobs in Scotland and across the wider supply chain for many years to come. The Type 26 program will also secure the long term future of the Scottish shipbuilding industry.
