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London (UPI) Mar 26, 2009 BAE Systems has won a $189 million contract to build the next generation of warships and two more nuclear attack submarines for the British navy. The four-year contract concerns assessment work on the Type 26 frigate, which is the model that is expected to replace Type 22 and 23 frigates, set to be retired by the end of the decade, the British Ministry of Defense said in a statement. The new Type 26 frigates are designed to be used to protect larger battleships or to ward off hostile submarines. "You simply cannot have an effective navy without capable frigates and the Type 26 combat ship will form the future backbone of the (British navy's) surface combatant force," Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Mark Stanhope told the British daily The Independent. "These ships will be highly versatile, able to operate across the full spectrum of operations," he added. Part of the Future Surface Combatant program, the Type 26s each displace about 6,000 tons and can carry out vertically launched precision strikes. They can also fire anti-air missiles. In line with that program the Ministry of Defense also won endorsement for the development of the navy's fifth and sixth Astute-class nuclear submarines. The announcement falls short of actually announcing that BAE will complete construction of the specific vessels. Instead, the government said it was providing the multimillion-dollar contract for "initial construction -- mainly steelwork -- on boat five and long-lead procurement activities for boat six," Defense News reported. The Type 26 and Astute combined boost Britain's defense capabilities. "Planning for future defense is crucial," Defense Secretary Bob Ainsworth said. "Programs like the Type 26 and Astute not only ensure the (British navy) continues to have cutting-edge capability but also sustain the industry that supports them." A seventh Astute class is also on the charts for development although the government has not officially decreed its purchase. Even so, the navy's spending spree is likely to infuriate the government's political opposition ahead of upcoming national elections. What's more, the controversial BAE contracts come hot on the heels of promises by the Ministry of Defense to generate nearly $200 million worth of savings from cheaper projects. Liam Fox, the shadow defense minister has called the Labor government a "bankrupt shopaholic on one last spending binge before jail, spending taxpayers' money which they hope not to be responsible for." The nuclear-powered attack submarines are set to replace the Trafalgar class vessels. They are the most technologically advanced in the world with a sonar tracking capability of thousands of miles.
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