Future HMS Glasgow preparing to leave Govan for the first time (Source: Ian Dick)
The Royal Norwegian Navy has made a request to BAE Systems to potentially provide it with a fleet of up to five Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigates in an extensive modernisation of the Norwegian military amid mounting tensions in Europe.
The request comes amid the release of Norway’s updated defence plan, titled, The Norwegian Defence Pledge, under which the Norwegian government has committed to expanding the nation’s defence spending beyond the 2 per cent floor expected of NATO member states within the 2025–36 time frame.
At the core of this push is a commitment to expanding the Royal Norwegian Navy’s capabilities, with the announcement release stating, “Norway is a nation with considerable maritime interests. Combined with our immediate proximity to Russia’s nuclear submarine force, maintaining situational awareness in the High North and in the North Atlantic is paramount.
“This long-term defence plan emphasises capabilities in the maritime domain through the planned procurement of a minimum of five new frigates with anti-submarine warfare capability as well as minimum of five new submarines,” the Norwegians announced.
This push for new anti-submarine warfare frigates has seen the Scandinavian country make an approach to BAE Systems for the Royal Navy’s future Type 26 or City Class frigates to form the basis of the Royal Norwegian Navy’s new major surface combatant fleet.
However, this isn’t without major challenges, particularly for the Royal Navy which is struggling under the ageing nature of its existing Type 23 frigate fleet, which the City Class is slated to replace.
Norway’s request would see the country gain access to one of the first block of four hulls before the Royal Navy, at best, leaving one of the service’s ageing anti-submarine warfare frigates in service longer than expected or at worst, leaving the Royal Navy a hull short at a time when it is already at its smallest point in decades.
Despite this, the UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson told UK paper The Telegraph, “We are working jointly with BAE Systems on options to support Norway’s future frigate program and actively support the promotion of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship design to other navies around the world with a similar requirement.”
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Adding to this, BAE Systems also told The Telegraph, “We’re committed to delivering the eight ship Type 26 program for the Royal Navy and are making good progress with construction underway on the first four vessels.”
While not the only option expected to be pursued by the Norwegians, with other options including the Dutch ASWF, the German F126 Class, the French FDI, the American/Italian Constellation Class, and the Spanish F-110.
The Royal Navy’s first Type 26 frigate, the future HMS Glasgow, began to take shape at BAE System’s yard in Glasgow in April 2019, with the ship not due to begin sea trials until 2025. Meanwhile, the second ship, the future HMS Cardiff, began construction in August 2019 and will be followed by a third frigate, HMS Belfast, in 2021.