Portsmouth MP Flick Drummond has been shown the first ever model of the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigate that will be based in the city.
She came to face-to-face with how the vessel will look at the Defence Security and Equipment International exhibition at ExCel in London’s Docklands which is running all this week.
The frigate will be the work horse of the Navy from the 2020s in three core roles - warfighting, maritime security and international engagement and 13 of them will replace the Type 23s currently in service across the world.
“It was great to see the model, which has finalised the ship’s silhouette, and I was told a great deal about its capabilities,” said Flick.
“It will be a proud moment when the first one enters Portsmouth Naval Base, but, more importantly, it’s really vital that the Royal Navy has this sort of 21st century ship if Britain is to effectively punch its weight in the world and offer maritime security and humanitarian aid to those who need it in the years to come.”
Flick added that she was surprised to see the Type 26 is almost as long as the Type 45 destroyers. She was also told about some impressive features including the ability to house two Wildcat or one Merlin aircraft in the helicopter hangar. A Chinook heavy lift chopper is also able to land on the deck.