Type 26 class ASW Frigate Royal Norwegian Navy Sjøforsvaret

Royal Norwegian Navy / Sjøforsvaret
New ASW Frigate (UK Type 26)

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09/25

Ships:

5 units in procurement

Specifications (based on UK Royal Navy ships data):

Builder: BAE Systems Maritime - Naval Ships, Scotstoun & Govan Shipyards (Glasgow), Scotland, UK

Length: 149.9 meters (491 ft 10 in)
Beam: 20.8 meters (68 ft 3 in)
Draft: ?
Displacement: 6900 tons (standard) / 8000 tons (full load)
Speed: 26+ knots (48+ km/h)
Range: 7000+ NM (13000+ km)
Complement: 160 core crew (capacity for 208)

Propulsion:
CODLOG (combined Diesel-Electric or Gas)
2 x Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines
4 x MTU 20V 4000 M53B high-speed diesel generators
2 x electric motors
2 shafts / 2 controllable-pitch propellers

Armament:

Sea Ceptor Vertical Launching System (VLS) - 12 cells
for up to 48
CAMM + CAMM-ER SAM Missiles (4 per cell)

Mk.41 Strike Length Vertical Launching System (VLS) - 24 cells
for
BGM-109 Tomahawk TLAM Missiles
RUM-139 VL-ASROC Anti-Submarine Missiles
CAMM + CAMM-ER SAM Missiles or RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile / ESSM (quad packed)
FC/ASW (Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon)

1 x BAE Mk.45 Mod.4 (5"/62 - 5-inches/62-caliber) gun
2 x DS30M Mk.2 30mm machine gun system
2 x Mk.15 Phalanx CIWS
2 x M134 Miniguns

Aviation:
large flight deck (Chinook capable) and hangar for 2 helicopters or UAV's
(type not decided yet)

Systems:
BAE Type 997 Artisan 3D radar
Kelvin Hughes SharpEye navigation radar
Terma SCANTER 6000 2D X-Band navigation radar
Thales Sonar 2087 towed array sonar system (TASS)
Ultra Electronics Type 2150 bow sonar
3 x Sea Eagle FCEO (Fire Control Electro Optical)
SCOT-5 satcom
IRVIN-GQ DLF decoy system
Surface Ship Torpedo Defence (SSTD) System decoy launchers

Norwegian Government press release | Date: 31/08/2025 (shortened)

The 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.

‘Norway 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,’ said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

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 up to five British Type 26 frigates to Norway will start in 2030.

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.

‘Having 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,’ said Sandvik.

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.

class + detail images

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