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2d ago

Norway Picks UK’s Type 26 Frigates for Fleet Rebuild

Oslo will finalize a government-to-government pact before contracting with BAE Systems, with deliveries slated to start in 2030.

Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, center, flanked by Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik, left, and Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen, reports on the status of the purchase of frigates from the United Kingdom at the Prime Minister's Office in Oslo on Sunday.
Image
An aerial view of HMS Cardiff Type 26 frigate under construction at BAE Systems shipyard on the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland, on February 16.

Overview

  • Norway selected BAE Systems’ Type 26 as its next frigate, moving into final agreement and contract negotiations after a competition that included France, Germany and the United States.
  • The package is reported at about £10 billion, described by the UK as its biggest warship export and by Norway as its largest defense purchase.
  • Construction is expected at BAE’s Clyde shipyards in Glasgow; the UK says the program will support roughly 4,000 jobs across the country, including about 2,000 at the yards.
  • Oslo plans at least five ships to restore and strengthen anti-submarine capability in the High North, with the UK and Norway aiming for closely aligned specifications to enable joint operations and training.
  • A binding UK–Norway agreement will set the framework ahead of talks on price and delivery schedules, after which Norway’s government will seek parliamentary approval; the UK has guaranteed industrial cooperation for Norwegian firms equivalent to the acquisition’s value.