A new defence agreement will see Type 26 frigates from the U.K. and Norway joining forces to protect critical undersea infrastructure (CUI) and track Russian submarines.
The new accord, dubbed the Lunna House Agreement, will be signed today (Thursday) by U.K. Defence Secretary John Healey and his Norwegian counterpart Tore O. Sandvik at 10 Downing Street, as per a press statement from the British Government.
It will mean a combined fleet of at least 13 warships, working in tandem with autonomous systems, patrolling the north Atlantic to provide maritime security. Together they will patrol the GIUK gap: the strategically vital waters between Greenland, Iceland and the U.K.
The ships will monitor Russian naval activity and defend critical infrastructure including underwater data and power cables and fuel pipelines.
The new agreement also encompasses a range of other cooperations including the U.K. joining a Norwegian programme to develop motherships for uncrewed mine hunting and undersea warfare.
Royal Marines will train year-round in Norway, Royal Navy ships will acquire the Naval Strike Missile, and both sets of armed forces will work together on uncrewed systems and participate in joint wargaming.
The Prime Ministers of both countries, Sir Keir Starmer and Jonas Støre, are also due to visit RAF Lossiemouth today and speak to P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft crews who have been helping track Russian vessels in U.K. waters.
The new defence partnership follows on from Norway’s decision in September to spend £10 billion buying at least five new frigates from BAE Systems in a configuration virtually identical to the Royal Navy’s planned fleet of eight Type 26 warships.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer commented: ”At this time of profound global instability, as more Russian ships are being detected in our waters, we must work with international partners to protect our national security.
“This historic agreement with Norway strengthens our ability to protect our borders and the critical infrastructure our nations depend on.”
The two defence secretaries are today also due to visit the Maritime Capability Coalition in Portsmouth, which supports Ukraine’s maritime operations with training and equipment.
- You can read more details on the U.K. Government website