Norway announces shortlist for new frigate acquisition

Norway is looking to replace its ageing Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates – HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen (foreground) and HNoMS Otto Sverdrup are pictured – with a long-term and mutually beneficial strategic partnership with a close ally. (Ørjan Andreassen/Forsvaret)

The Norwegian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has shortlisted France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States as potential partners for Norway's future frigate programme.

Announcing the shortlist on 19 November, Norwegian Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said discussions would now begin with the governments of the selected countries regarding a potential strategic partnership for the delivery of new frigates to replace the Royal Norwegian Navy's (RNoN's) current F-310 Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates.

The Norwegian MoD said it planned to announce its final decision on a strategic partner for the frigate programme in 2025.

“With regards to the four countries in question, work is now starting that will lay the conditions for subsequent contract negotiations as well as co-operation in areas beyond material procurement alone, such as industrial co-operation, research, and development,” Gram said.

Norway's long-term defence plan for 2025–36, adopted by parliament in June 2024, calls for the acquisition of at least five new frigates, with an option for a sixth. The new frigates, which will be optimised for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations and embark ASW helicopters, are intended to contribute to the full spectrum of maritime operations so as to help maintain continuous situational awareness and posture in Norwegian areas of interest.

The frigate programme represents the single-largest acquisition programme for the Norwegian Armed Forces in the coming years, said Gram. “Norway is an important maritime nation in NATO, and through this and other maritime investments we will be strengthening both national and allied security.”