Norway is considering curbing the purchase of Type 26 frigates, which are part of its long-term defense plan, after costs escalated in several military programs.
According to the VG newspaper, government officials and the high command of the armed forces are evaluating the possibility of acquiring fewer ships than the five initially approved by parliament, as a result of the continued increase in modernization spending.
The plan approved in 2024 called for five new frigates for the Royal Norwegian Navy, but Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik has already admitted that spending has exceeded the budget limit. The government is therefore working on a planning review with the aim of aligning investments to the budget ceiling approved by the Storting until 2036.
The main push comes from the submarine program. Parliament recently approved the purchase of two more units based on the recommendation of the chief of the armed forces, General Eirik Kristoffersen, who emphasizes submarine capabilities. At the same time, the costs of this program have almost doubled and already reach approximately NOK 96 billion, while the contract was concluded with the German shipyard TKMS.
The debate also concerns naval cooperation with the United Kingdom, which envisages the acquisition of new frigates manufactured by BAE Systems, but without a specified number of vessels. Faced with a tight budget, the government is considering cuts in various areas, and the frigates are among the programs being reviewed, as part of tough decisions to modernize the country’s armed forces.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: @Forsvarsdep | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
