Norway has chosen the United Kingdom as its strategic partner for the purchase of new frigates, officially confirming its selection of the British-built Type 26 Global Combat Ship. The move represents the largest defense investment in Norway’s history and will significantly modernize the Royal Norwegian Navy’s fleet.
The Type 26 frigate, designed by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy, is a state-of-the-art warship with advanced capabilities in anti-submarine warfare. Its quiet propulsion system and low acoustic signature make it particularly effective in detecting and tracking submarines across the challenging waters of the North Atlantic.
In addition to anti-submarine missions, the vessel is capable of air defense, surface warfare, and general-purpose operations. The ship’s combat suite includes the Sea Ceptor air defense missile system, a 127mm naval gun, and provisions for integrating additional missile systems based on national requirements.
The frigate is also built for flexibility, with a large flight deck and hangar to accommodate helicopters and drones, along with a modular mission bay that can carry mine countermeasure equipment, special forces gear, or other mission-specific payloads.
