Norway is considering reducing the purchase of Type 26 frigates planned in the country’s long-term defense plan after escalating costs across several military programs.
According to the VG newspaper, government officials and the top leadership of the armed forces are considering acquiring fewer ships than the five originally approved by parliament, as a result of the continued rising costs of the modernization process.
The plan, approved in 2024, included five new frigates for the Royal Norwegian Navy, but Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik has already acknowledged that spending has exceeded the set budget ceiling. Therefore, the government is working on a revision of the planning to adapt the investments to the expenditure framework approved by the Storting until 2036.
The biggest pressure comes from the submarine program. Parliament recently approved the purchase of two additional units on the recommendation of the head of the armed forces, General Eirik Kristoffersen, who prioritizes the submarine capability. At the same time, the costs of this program have almost doubled and already amount to around NOK 96 billion, with a contract concluded with the German shipyard TKMS.
The debate also includes the maritime cooperation with Great Britain, which involves the acquisition of new frigates produced by BAE Systems, although without a fixed number of vessels. With a tight budget, the government is considering savings in several areas, and the frigates are among the programs under review in a scenario characterized by difficult choices for the country’s military modernization.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: @Forsvarsdep | This content is created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editors
