The UK’s Type 26 warship manufacturer BAE Systems has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Norwegian shipbuilder Hamek to collaborate on Norway’s future maritime requirements, amid Oslo’s ongoing considerations of designs for a new naval frigate.
In a 24 February release from BAE Systems, it was stated that, subject to the outcome of Norway’s procurement process “for advanced maritime capability” in which the Type 26 was being considered, the two companies would explore enhanced ship support of maintenance solutions.
The MoU signing took place onboard the UK’s RFA Lyme Bay at Hamek’s Harstad site in the north of Norway, where the company plans to invest in its dry-docking and ship facilities, the BAE Systems release added.
“This MoU enables us to build on our two-nations’ industrial relationship as Hamek develops its plans for facilities investment in support of the current and future Norwegian fleet,” said Bruce Balchin, Norway campaign director, BAE Systems.
What is the significance?
The MoU is notable as it sees the designer and manufacturer of the Type 26 frigate forming a structural understanding with a Norwegian company that could theoretically be part of a future Norwegian frigate maintenance requirements.
BAE Systems has invested significantly in its own shipyard facilities in Scotland where it is building eight Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy. For its part, Hamek is one of northern Norway’s largest maritime maintenance shipyards and has the country’s third largest dry dock recently expanded to 145x27x9.5m in April 2015.
In a parliamentary written response on 9 December 2024, UK Defence Procurement Minister Maria Eagle said the Ministry of Defence was “actively supporting” the promotion of the Type 26 and Type 31 general purpose frigate “to other navies around the world” with similar requirements.
“The Type 26 has been down selected as one of four options for the Norwegian Future Frigate competition,” Eagle stated at the time.
The Type 26 design has already won export deals with its design to be used by Canada and Australia for their own respective frigate progammes.
Norway wants to join existing production line
In mid-November 2024, Norway’s Ministry of Defence announced that it had invited France, Germany, the UK, and US to “discussions on strategic partnership” for new frigates for the Royal Norwegian Navy.
In June 2024 the Norwegian Parliament passed the new Long-Term Plan for the Norwegian Armed Forces, which calls for the acquisition of a minimum of five, optionally six new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates with embarked anti-submarine helicopters.
In addition, to limit the need for upgrades of the Fridtjof Nansen class, Norway is also looking to accelerate the acquisition by joining an existing production line for such vessels.
The competition places the Type 26 against likely competitors in the US’ Constellation class, France’s FDI light frigate, and Germany’s F126 frigate.
