HMS Cardiff becomes whole as giant halves of vessel are joined

The forward and aft sections of the Royal Navy's new Type 26 frigate HMS Cardiff have been joined together.

Cardiff, one of eight vessels being built for the Navy, is under construction at the ship build hall at BAE Systems in Govan, Glasgow.

The first section of HMS Cardiff was seen being taken out of the ship build hall last month.

• Royal Navy's new Type 26 frigate emerges for first time in Glasgow
• Drone footage shows rear half of HMS Cardiff rolled out of build hall
• Men and women from HMS Cambria march through Cardiff city centre for the first time

The new Type 26 frigates are expected to be constructed by the mid-2030s.

When complete, HMS Cardiff will provide the Royal Navy with the most advanced anti-submarine warfare capability in the world.

At the BAE shipyard in Govan, the two halves being placed together marked a significant step forward in the ship's construction.