Norway orders British-built frigates in largest-ever defence investment

The Norwegian government has announced the purchase of British Type 26 frigates in what is described as the country’s largest defence investment to date.

The UK will supply the advanced anti-submarine warfare vessels under a £10 billion (€11.5 billion) deal — the most valuable naval export contract in British history, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

“Norway and the United Kingdom are close allies with shared interests and strong bilateral ties. I am confident that this strategic partnership on the procurement, development, and operation of frigates is the right decision,” said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, noting that the agreement aligns with the country’s current Long-Term Defense Plan.

According to the British government, the deal will support 4,000 jobs across the UK defense supply chain into the 2030s, including over 2,000 at BAE Systems shipyards in Glasgow, as well as hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises.

The choice of the Type 26 frigate underscores decades of close NATO cooperation between London and Oslo and comes amid growing Russian threats in Northern Europe. Australia and Canada have also selected the Type 26 design for their navies.

The agreement envisions a combined fleet of 13 anti-submarine frigates — eight British and at least five Norwegian — operating jointly in Northern Europe, strengthening NATO’s northern flank.

Norwegian Defense Minister Tur O. Sandvik highlighted that the ships will be nearly identical to their British counterparts, reducing costs, simplifying maintenance, and opening the possibility of joint crew rotations. The vessels will be equipped with anti-submarine helicopters, though Oslo has yet to decide which model will be deployed.

By Khagan Isayev