HMS Glasgow Comes Alive: Type 26 Reaches Power-On Milestone

HMS Glasgow, the Royal Navy’s first Type 26 frigate, has reached one of the most important milestones in her build: Power-On. After years of renders, steel blocks, and speculation, the UK’s next-generation anti-submarine warfare frigate is now generating and distributing her own power for the first time.
In this video, we break down what the Power-On milestone really means for a modern warship, why it marks the transition from construction to commissioning, and how HMS Glasgow is moving steadily toward harbour and sea trials. We look inside the Type 26’s diesel-electric architecture, the quieting measures that underpin her ASW role, and why this stage matters so much for systems integration.
We also cover recent progress on weapons fit, including the installation of the Mk 45 Mod 4A 5-inch gun and the ongoing integration of the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System, which will eventually carry Tomahawk and future missiles.
Beyond Glasgow, we check in on HMS Cardiff, now well into fit-out following her float-off, and take a tour of the wider Clyde build programme — including the new Janet Harvey Hall, where HMS Belfast and HMS Birmingham are being assembled entirely under cover.
Finally, we examine how Norway’s entry into the Type 26 programme expands production without reducing Royal Navy hull numbers, and what this means for fleet interoperability and delivery timelines.
With six Type 26 frigates now in build or fit-out, the programme has momentum — and HMS Glasgow is no longer just a concept.

00:00 Power-On Milestone for Type 26
00:41 What the “Power-On” Milestone Actually Means
04:08 Where HMS Cardiff Is Up To?
04:42 Inside the Janet Harvey Hal: Production Under Cover
06:17 The Lunna House Agreement: Norway Joins Type 26 Program
07:57 Looking Ahead to 2026

This video includes imagery and footage sourced from:
-UK Ministry of Defence and Royal Navy Imagery Library (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/) – used under the UK Open Government Licence v3.0 where applicable.
-Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons – licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-SA or equivalent), with appropriate attribution to original creators where required.
-Public Domain sources, including material released by the UK Government, NATO, and allied military agencies.
-BAE Systems

All media has been used in accordance with applicable licensing terms. Where possible, attribution is provided in-video or via image metadata.

For more on the UK Open Government Licence: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/d...
For Creative Commons licenses: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/

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