An extended awaited choice on the Royal Norwegian Navy’s subsequent era warships was introduced on Aug. 31, with Norwegian PM Jonas Støre confirming the procurement of UK-designed Sort 26 frigates in a deal value £10 billion.
A minimum of 5 Sort 26 frigates will likely be bought to exchange 4 Fridtjof Nansen class frigates constructed within the 2000s. Whereas the Fridtjof Nansen class is comparatively fashionable in comparison with different frigates being changed by the Sort 26 worldwide, the lack of HNoMS Helge Ingstad in a 2018 collision has left the fleet completely under power.
Securing wires had been unable to forestall #HelgeIngstad sliding into deeper water. Final evening she sank additional and is now virtually solely submerged. pic.twitter.com/bx4uLvgEUV
— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) November 13, 2018
A major issue within the choice was commonality and interoperability with the Royal Navy, in addition to the Sort 26’s sturdy give attention to anti-submarine warfare. A mixed fleet of not less than 13 Sort 26s will patrol the waters of Northern Europe, the place Norway and the UK are already shut companions.
The Norwegian authorities has chosen The UK as a strategic accomplice, and can procure British frigates for the Royal Norwegian Navy, stated PM @jonasgahrstore throughout Sunday’s press convention 🇳🇴🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/YPa04Cftof
— SMK (@Statsmin_kontor) August 31, 2025
Norway is the third abroad nation to pick the British frigate, following Australia and Canada. Whereas the precise configuration of Norway’s Sort 26s stays to be confirmed, the precise point out of interoperability between “similar” frigates possible signifies that they are going to be way more related in specification to the Royal Navy’s personal ships in comparison with the tailored variants within the works for elsewhere. In Australia, often known as the Hunter class, the ships are anticipated to hold the CEAFAR2 radar system instead of the Royal Navy specification Sort 997 Artisan, whereas the Canadian ships, often known as River class, will likely be designated as destroyers and carry the AN/SPY-7, Aegis Fight System, and American-designed missiles.
The UK’s Sort 26s, often known as Metropolis class, are specialised anti-submarine warfare ships designed to exchange the effectively regarded however lengthy within the tooth Sort 23. Solely 8 Sort 26s are at the moment deliberate for the Royal Navy, with the remaining frigate requirement being coated by the final function Sort 31 Inspiration class. Examples of each frigates are within the late phases of manufacturing, with Sort 26s HMS Glasgow and HMS Cardiff anticipated to be commissioned in 2028 and the Sort 31 HMS Venturer by 2027. They’ll carry the battle-tested Sea Ceptor air defence missile system alongside strike-length Mark 41 vertical launch system cells for land assault and anti-ship missiles – a primary for the Royal Navy.
In line with the UK Authorities, the £10 billion is, by worth, the largest warship export ever carried out by Britain, and the most important defence procurement ever for Norway. 4,000 jobs will likely be supported by the deal within the UK by way of the 2030s, whereas industrial participation by Norway is broadly anticipated to even be included.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Støre stated: “Norway and the UK are shut allies, with widespread pursuits and powerful bilateral ties. I’m assured that the strategic partnership with the UK for buying, growing and working frigates is the suitable choice.”
His British counterpart, Keir Starmer, added: “This Authorities has cast new partnerships internationally to ship for individuals at dwelling and the export of our world main Sort 26 frigates to Norway will do precisely that, supporting well-paid jobs up and down the UK, from apprentices to engineers,”
“This success is testomony to the hundreds of individuals throughout the nation who should not simply delivering this subsequent era capabilities for our Armed Forces but in addition nationwide safety for the UK, our Norwegian companions and NATO for years to come back.”
Merlin Order?
The ever rising probability of Norway deciding on the Sort 26 in current months has inspired the prospect of a associated order for AW101 Merlin maritime helicopters, that are utilized by the Royal Navy as their premier rotary wing ASW platform. A number of fashions of the Sort 26 used for instance a Norwegian operated variant of the ship have depicted a Merlin on the helicopter deck. Mutual use of the Merlin airframe would additionally align with the targets of working similar frigates with matching capabilities.
Norway already operates the utility variant of the AW101 for search and rescue, although in 2023 ordered the MH-60R Seahawk as a maritime helicopter to exchange NH90s. Nonetheless, whereas the MH-60R is a extremely succesful helicopter, there’s nonetheless attainable room for an ASW centered helicopter. Not like the Seahawk, the Merlin is an unbiased ASW platform, capable of conduct the total mission set onboard together with all processing. MH-60R, in the meantime, is designed primarily to work in tandem with a ship, with extra restricted onboard capabilities owing to its smaller measurement. Merlin continues to be, in fact, able to interfacing with floor vessels to enhance its ASW functionality – and the Sort 26 is particularly designed to work with the Merlin’s tools.
