The warship was launched at the Govan shipyard in Glasgow

HMS Dauntless, one of a new generation of warships, was officially launched at the BAE Systems shipyard in Govan in the south of Glasgow.

The Type 45 is the second vessel of its kind to be built in the city as part of a �6bn programme.

About 8,000 people attended the launch which saw a parade of local sea cadets release a flurry of balloons.

Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said the launch of the Dauntless marked a historic day for the people of Glasgow and the Clyde.

Mr Ingram said: "We are currently investing in the biggest shipbuilding programme in decades, and the launch today of HMS Dauntless shows the world class ships we are proud to be delivering for the navy.

The Royal Navy will be here for a very, very long time, well beyond the 20-year horizon and the future for young people is here on the Clyde Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram

"The programme currently provides 3,000 ship building jobs on the Clyde, 600 ship building jobs in Portsmouth and many more jobs at sub-contractors across the country.

"The workforce involved in building the ship should be proud of their achievements."

Mr Ingram dismissed suggestions that the future looked bleak for the Clyde shipyard after 2014 when the Type 45 destroyer programme comes to an end.

Ageing fleet

He added: "We are committed to working with the shipbuilding capabilities within the UK.

"The Royal Navy will be here for a very, very long time, well beyond the 20-year horizon and the future for young people is here on the Clyde."

The Type 45 will replace the navy's ageing fleet of Type 42 destroyers and six in total have been commissioned to be built and launched in Glasgow.

Like the Dauntless, which will come into service in 2010, the Type 45 will be fitted with state-of-the-art technology, including the Principle Anti-Air Missile System, which can provide air space cover for hundreds of miles.