Norway is set to place its largest defence order yet with BAE Systems after selecting the Type 26 design for its new fleet of Royal Norwegian Navy frigates in a deal worth an estimated £10 billion.
As per a press statement from Norway’s Ministry of Defence, its Government has selected the U.K. as its “strategic partner” for the acquisition of new frigates. At least five vessels are set to be procured, with the first ship due to be delivered in 2030.
The vessels are likely to be almost identical to the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 vessels; a fleet of eight British boats are currently being built by BAE Systems in Glasgow, Scotland.
The combined 13-strong fleet will significantly bolster NATO’s antisubmarine warfare (ASW) capabilities along its northern flank.
The Type 26 beat off competition from three other shortlisted designs: the French FDI frigate, Germany’s F127, and the American Constellation-class ships.
The Norwegian MoD statement noted: “The British Type 26 frigates are warships specifically designed to detect, track down and combat submarines. The Norwegian and British vessels will be as identical as possible, and have the same technical specifications.”
Norway’s Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik added: “Having identical vessels will enable us to operate even more efficiently together on challenging missions. It will also reduce costs and make joint maintenance easier.
“Additionally, it opens up the possibility for us to perform joint training of personnel, and perhaps even use Norwegian and British crew interchangeably. This is something we will look into further within the framework of the strategic partnership.”
The nation’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre characterised the decision as “a historic strengthening of the defence cooperation between our two countries.”
He added: “Norway and the United Kingdom are close allies, with common interests and strong bilateral ties. I am confident that the strategic partnership with the UK for purchasing, developing and operating frigates is the right decision.”
U.K. Defence Secretary John Healey MP pledged: “With Norway, we will train, operate, deter, and — if necessary — fight together.
“Our navies will work as one, leading the way in NATO, with this deal putting more world-class warships in the North Atlantic to hunt Russian submarines, protect our critical infrastructure, and keep both our nations secure.”
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer noted: “This £10 billion deal is what our Plan for Change is about — creating jobs, driving growth and protecting national security for working people.
“This Government has forged new partnerships across the world to deliver for people at home and the export of our world-leading Type 26 frigates to Norway will do exactly that, supporting well-paid jobs up and down the United Kingdom, from apprentices to engineers.
“This success is testament to the thousands of people across the country who are not just delivering this next generation capabilities for our Armed Forces but also national security for the UK, our Norwegian partners and NATO for years to come.”
The contract is expected to support 4,000 jobs across the U.K. deep into the 2030s, including 2,000+ at BAE Systems in Glasgow. The deal will also take in shared maintenance, crew training, and in-service support.
Chief Executive of BAE Systems Charles Woodburn said: “The Norwegian Government’s decision reflects its confidence in British industry’s ability to deliver a superior anti-submarine warfare platform, together with systems and equipment, that will support its future maritime security and reinforce its position within NATO.
“We look forward to playing our part in further strengthening the strategic partnership between the UK and Norway, as we work together with Norwegian industry to deliver this important capability to the Royal Norwegian Navy.”
Norway will become the fourth operator of the warship, also known by the moniker “Global Combat Ship”; the Royal Australian Navy has selected the same design for its Hunter-class frigates, and the Royal Canadian Navy has picked the ship for its River-class vessels, which it designates as destroyers.
- You can read more details about the deal on the Norwegian MoD website and the U.K. MoD website