Work has officially started on the Royal Navy’s new class of destroyers at the BAE Systems Govan shipyard in Glasgow.

Defence Procurement Minister Lord Bach launched the production process on HMS Daring, the first of six Type 45 destroyers, known as D-class ships.

The ships, designed primarily as air defence platforms, will displace around 7,350 tons, making them the biggest anti-air warfare vessels ever built for the Royal navy.

They have a displacement almost twice that of the current Type 42 destroyers which they are due to replace, but their complement is just over half of their predecessors at 187 men and women.

BAE Systems is prime contractor for the type, elements of which will be built at BAE Systems yards on the Clyde and in Portsmouth by VT Shipbuilding, formerly known as Vosper Thornycroft. Although six have been ordered, further D-class ships are expected to be ordered later in the decade.

Type 45s will be armed with PAAMS (principle anti-air missile system), and will prove a huge step forward in technology from the existing ships when they enter service from 2007 onwards.

Lord Bach said: “When HMS Daring enters service, she will set new standards in anti-air warfare. The Type 45 represents a 21st century response to the most sophisticated threats that might face UK or Allied ships in the years to come.

“When allied to the new aircraft carriers, our new attack submarines, and to a range of other new amphibious and support vessels currently under construction, this demonstrates our firm commitment to maintaining and enhancing our maritime capabilities.

“This programme of new warship construction is the largest in the country for years and is creating and sustaining large numbers of jobs at shipyards across the UK.

“The design phase of this project, which is now reaching its conclusion, has been a tremendous success for all involved.

“The Type 45 moves into production with a level of design maturity that far exceeds what has been possible on previous warship programmes. While building a warship remains an extremely complex business, the progress made on design will bring real benefits during the construction process.”

The cost for the first six of class is expected to be around £4.3 billion, and their construction will directly sustain some 2,650 jobs at BAE Systems and VT, while dozens of other firms will benefit as sub-contractors or suppliers.

The first six of class have been named Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon, Defender and Duncan.