![\"Type](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Type-26-frigate-Norway-UDT-2025-2-1024x771.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Norwegian Government has selected the United Kingdom as a strategic partner for the acquisition of new frigates. The purchase of British frigates will be the largest Norwegian defence capability investment to date.<\/p>\n
Norwegian Ministry of Defense press release<\/p>\n
\u2018Norway 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. This partnership enables Norway to reach the strategic objectives our Parliament set out in the current Long-Term Plan on Defence,\u2019<\/p>\n
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr St\u00f8re<\/p>\n
In connection with the Norwegian defence pledge, the Parliament decided that Norway should select a strategic partner for the acquisition of new frigates, as quickly as possible. This is now being followed up by the Norwegian Government. The Storting has been consulted through the expanded Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. Delivery of the British Type-26 frigates to Norway will start in 2030.<\/p>\n
\u2018Selecting the United Kingdom as a strategic partner for frigates was also recommended by the Chief of Defence. The choice represents a historic strengthening of the defence cooperation between our two countries,\u2019 said St\u00f8re.<\/p>\n
Since November last year, Norwegian authorities have considered France, Germany, USA and UK as a strategic partner on frigates.<\/p>\n
\u2018It has been a difficult choice. The four candidates, France, Germany, USA and the UK, have provided strong and competitive proposals. They are all close allies, and I wish to express my appreciation for a constructive process and dialogue. All four allies are strategic partners for Norway. The extensive cooperation on security and defence policy will continue at full strength with all of them,\u2019 said St\u00f8re.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Note the 16x NSM launchers.<\/p>\n
A stronger strategic partnership<\/p>\n
A long-term, strategic partnership on frigates requires deepened and strengthened cooperation in the time to come.<\/p>\n
\u2018Together we will acquire frigates to the British Royal Navy and the Royal Norwegian Navy. We will operate and develop the frigates for the coming decades. This will strengthen our and NATO\u2019s ability to patrol and protect the maritime areas in the High North. This is of great importance to Norwegian, British and allied security in these times of global instability,\u2019 said St\u00f8re.<\/p>\n
Norway and the United Kingdom have long lasting, close ties. After having operated British vessels during World War II, the post war navy was largely built on British doctrines, tactics and operational concepts.<\/p>\n
\u2018We have strong shared interests in the North Atlantic. Our Armed Forces maintains a close cooperation, and with a joint frigate program, we will be able to operate seamlessly and integrated in our joint areas of interest,\u2019 said Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik.<\/p>\n
Extensive industrial cooperation<\/p>\n
The strategic partnership with the United Kingdom will be accompanied by extensive industrial cooperation. In the draft agreement the United Kingdom has guaranteed for industrial cooperation with Norwegian industry equivalent to the total value of the acquisition.<\/p>\n
\u2018This is positive for Norwegian industry and Norwegian jobs. The industry will play a vital role especially in maintaining and keeping the vessels up to date. We have identified a wide range of industrial and technological areas of cooperation where Norwegian industry can compete for contracts,\u2019 says St\u00f8re.<\/p>\n
![\"Type](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Type-26-frigate-Norway-UDT-2025-3-1024x771.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Scale model of Type 26 frigate in Royal Norwegian Navy configuration on display on BAE Systems booth during UDT 2025 in Olso.<\/p>\n
Ships for anti-submarine operations<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u2018Having 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,\u2019 said Sandvik.<\/p>\n
The Norwegian frigates will be equipped with anti-submarine capable helicopters. A decision on what type of helicopter the Norwegian frigates will be operating has not yet been made.<\/p>\n
\u2018The Norwegian frigates will be equipped with helicopters with anti-submarine capability. At the same time, it is important that we consider the rapid technological developments, and explore the possibilities for utilizing unmanned platforms. This is something we will look further into together with British partners,\u2019 said Sandvik.<\/p>\n
Separate government agreement<\/p>\n
The Norwegian and British governments will soon finalize a binding agreement which sets the framework for the strategic partnership. Once the agreement is signed, the two parties will enter into contract negotiations with the main British supplier, BAE Systems.<\/p>\n
In parallel, Norwegian and British authorities will negotiate separate industrial cooperation agreements for various collaborative projects with relevant industrial partners.<\/p>\n
\u2018Our first goal is to finalize the Government agreement shortly. Then we will move into contract negotiations. We will negotiate, among other things, the price and delivery schedule for the vessels, before returning to the Parliament with an investment decision,\u2019 said Sandvik.<\/p>\n
Naval News comments:<\/p>\n
On November 19, 2024, Norway down-selected France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States<\/a> for discussions on a strategic partnership for the development of new frigates for the Royal Norwegian Navy, with the Norwegian Government aiming to finalize its decision on a strategic partner by 2025.<\/p>\n The four frigate candidates were, respectively, the FDI, the F127, the Type 26 and the Constellation-class.<\/p>\n The Royal Norwegian Navy is set to become the fourth operator of the Type 26\/Global Combat Ship after the British Royal Navy (City-class<\/a>), the Royal Australian Navy (Hunter-class<\/a>) and the Royal Canadian Navy (CSC \/ River-class<\/a>).<\/p>\n