STS Defence contracts Mainstay Marine for Type 26 frigate mast work

After receiving a contract from Rohde and Schwarz Ltd to provide the twin integrated main communications masts for the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigates, STS Defence contracted Mainstay Marine to build, fabricate and outfit the integrated communications masts for the first three frigates in the class.

STS Defence will provide two masts for each of the first batch of three frigates.

The design of Type 26 masts is based on the main communications mast that STS Defence also supports for the Royal Navy’s Type 45 Daring-class destroyers.

The masts will support a range of antennas providing line of sight communications across a range of frequency bands. Special isolation screens, manufactured from composite materials by Jeremy Roberts Ltd in Lymington, Hampshire will provide isolation between the different frequency bands. The mast structures will be manufactured and assembled by Mainstay Marine Solutions Ltd in Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire.

“This is a flagship programme for STS Defence which showcases our technology, design and integration capabilities. We are immensely proud to be providing this mission critical system to one of the most advanced warships in the world,” Jonathan Bowley, managing director of STS Defence, said.

“Mainstay is delighted to be involved in the project of such national importance. It is a great endorsement of Mainstay and its prospects for future growth and development,” Stewart Graves, Mainstay managing director commented.