UK Secures £10bn Warship Export Deal with Norway

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Sunday, August 31st, 2025

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LONDON, Aug. 31 – The United Kingdom has secured a landmark £10 billion agreement to supply the Royal Norwegian Navy with at least five Type 26 frigates, in what officials describe as the country’s largest-ever warship export deal.
The Ministry of Defence said the contract represents Norway’s biggest defence investment to date and will support more than 4,000 jobs across the UK, including 2,000 at BAE Systems’ Glasgow shipyards where the ships will be built. Over 400 British companies, including 103 in Scotland, are expected to benefit.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the deal as a “historic success” that will drive economic growth and strengthen NATO security. Defence Secretary John Healey said the agreement would enable the UK and Norway to “train, operate, deter, and if necessary, fight together,” enhancing NATO’s presence in the North Atlantic.
The Type 26 frigates are designed for advanced anti-submarine warfare, capable of tracking and neutralizing enemy submarines. Deliveries to Norway are expected to begin in 2029, while eight frigates of the same class remain under construction for the Royal Navy.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described the contract as a “historic strengthening” of bilateral defence ties, noting that Norway had selected the UK as both its most strategic partner and the supplier of the best frigates.
The agreement cements the UK’s global position in naval shipbuilding, with Type 26 vessels also under contract for Canada and Australia.