TYPE 26 GLOBAL COMBAT SHIP PROGRAMME
MOD · MOD_0055_1112-Q1
Department page: Ministry of Defence
| Data as at | Rating | End date | Whole-life cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2024 | Amber (NISTA's independent assessment) | 1 May 2035 | Exempt under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Exempt under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Commercial Interests) - Commercial interests.) |
| March 2025 | Amber (the department's own assessment) | Low: 01/05/2035, Mid: 01/05/2035, High: 01/05/2035 | Section 43 - Commercial interests |
| March 2026 | Amber (the department's own assessment) | 31 January 2037 | Exempt under Section 43 - Commercial interests |
Each year’s cost is shown with its price basis. Costs are not compared between years: the March 2024 and March 2025 reports state no price basis, and from March 2026 costs are in 2024/25 prices.
The department’s commentary
This is the department’s own commentary. It may use different prices from the table above, so its figures may not match.
March 2026
Rating: Compared to financial year 24/25 Q4, the SRO Delivery Confidence Assessment (DCA) rating at 25/26 Q4 remained at Amber. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. Delay caused by a combination of outstanding engineering design volume, supply chain performance, and COVID 19 related slowdown resulted in a schedule rebaseline to programme Initial Operating Capability, which was approved in early 2022 by the MOD Investment Approvals Committee and HM Treasury. 2. Importantly, quality has not been compromised, and T26 Frigates will be world class ships.
Schedule: Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the programme end-date at 25/26-Q4 remained the same at 01/05/2035.
Cost: Exempt under Section 43 - Commercial interests
March 2025
Rating: The Project's Delivery Confidence Assessment rating at 24/25-Q4 is AMBER, compared with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority's assessment last year of AMBER. This is due to the following factors. Delay caused by a combination of outstanding engineering design volume, supply chain performance and COVID19 related slowdown resulted in a schedule re-baseline to the programme's Initial Operating Capability, which was approved in early 2022. Importantly, quality has not been compromised and T26 Frigates will be world class ships delivered in time to replace their T23 counterparts.
Schedule: Compared to financial year 23/24-Q4, the project's end-date at 24/25-Q4 remained at 01/05/2035. .
Cost: Section 43 - Commercial interests
Source: NISTA Annual Report 2024-25 (data)
March 2024
Rating: Compared to financial year 22/23-Q4, the Infrastructure Project Authority's Delivery Confidence Assessment rating at 23/24-Q4 remained at Amber. This is primarily due to the following factors. Delay caused by a combination of outstanding engineering design volume; supply chain performance and COVID19 related slowdown resulted in a schedule re-baseline to programme Initial Operating Capability. Importantly, quality has not been compromised and T26 Frigates will be world class ships delivered in time to replace their T23 counterparts.
Schedule: Compared to financial year 22/23-Q4, the project's end-date at 23/24-Q4 remained on schedule to finish on 2035-05-01.
Cost: Exempt under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Exempt under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Commercial Interests) - Commercial interests.)
Source: IPA Annual Report 2023-24 (data)
Names, figures, dates, ratings and commentary are as the department reported them. Where a rating, cost or date is withheld, the file’s wording is shown. Every major project →