Norwegian composites manufacturer lands Type 26 frigate contract

Umoe Mandal has been awarded a contract for three shipsets of composite mast and SCOT Sponsons structures for the UK Royal Navy’s Type 26 Global Combat Ships, designed and manufactured by BAE Systems.

Type 26; Photo: Umoe Mandal

The Norwegian company has been selected as the preferred supplier of critical ship structures among a group of contractors interested in the program.

The integrated package of mast and SCOT Sponsons structures will be manufactured at Umoe Mandal’s facilities, with first shipset delivery scheduled for fall 2019.

“This contract further strengthens Umoe Mandal’s long-standing partnership with BAE Systems, to whom we have delivered close to eighty gun cupolas since 1998,” Tom Harald Svennevig, CEO of Umoe Mandal, commented.

Type 26 Global Combat Ship program is headed by UK Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems to develop multi-mission warships for the UK Royal Navy to support anti-submarine warfare, air defense, general purpose and humanitarian assistance operations.

With a displacement of 6,900 tons, the ships will have a length of 149.9 meters, a width of 20.8 meters and will be able to reach a speed of 26+ knots.

The first ship is scheduled to enter service in the 2020s.