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BAE Systems has commenced construction of a new £3.3 million ($6.4 million) paint facility at its Govan shipyard in Glasgow as part of a wider £360 million ($693.6 million) investment to modernise its Clyde shipbuilding operations and increase the pace of Type 26 frigate production.
The purpose-built, 1,100-square-metre facility will provide a dedicated space for painting ship blocks before they move into final assembly, freeing up valuable production areas and helping streamline the construction of the Royal Navy’s next-generation anti-submarine warfare frigates.
The project forms part of BAE Systems’ long-term transformation of its Govan and Scotstoun shipyards, where all eight Royal Navy Type 26 frigates are being built. The modernisation program is intended to improve manufacturing efficiency, expand production capacity and support the sustained delivery of one of the UK’s largest naval shipbuilding programs.
Simon Lister, managing director of BAE Systems’ naval ships business said: “This investment strengthens our ability to deliver the Type 26 frigates efficiently, at pace and to the highest standards of quality. It reflects our commitment to continuously improving our shipbuilding capability and ensuring we remain well positioned to meet the needs of our customers, both now and in the future."
Construction of the new facility is already underway and is expected to be completed later this year, allowing shipbuilding teams to carry out painting activities in a purpose-designed environment while maintaining production momentum across the yard.
The investment comes as work continues on multiple Type 26 frigates, including HMS Glasgow, HMS Cardiff, HMS Belfast and HMS Birmingham, with the class representing the future backbone of the Royal Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capability. The program also underpins the Global Combat Ship design selected by Australia for the Hunter Class frigate and by Canada for its Canadian Surface Combatant fleet.
The latest infrastructure upgrade follows a series of significant investments across the Clyde shipyards, including new assembly halls, advanced manufacturing facilities and heavy-lift infrastructure designed to support more efficient modular ship construction. Together, these projects form part of BAE Systems’ broader strategy to create one of Europe’s most advanced naval shipbuilding precincts.
“The new paint facility is another important step in our continued investment in Glasgow’s shipyards, helping to modernise our infrastructure and improve production efficiency. By optimising the use of space at our Govan site, the facility will increase painting capacity and support the demands of our shipbuilding program,” Lister said.
According to the company, the new paint facility will help maximise productivity by allowing specialist coating work to be undertaken separately from the main production flow, reducing bottlenecks and enabling multiple shipbuilding activities to proceed simultaneously.
The continued investment highlights the importance of the Type 26 program not only to the Royal Navy but also to the wider UK defence industrial base, supporting thousands of highly skilled jobs across the Clyde and an extensive national supply chain while strengthening sovereign naval shipbuilding capability.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
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