Norway is considering reducing the purchase of Type 26 frigates planned under its long-term defense plan following cost escalation across multiple military programs.
According to the newspaper VG, government officials and senior Armed Forces leadership are evaluating the acquisition of fewer ships than the five initially approved by Parliament, amid the continued rise in modernization-related expenditures.
The plan approved in 2024 called for five new frigates for the Royal Norwegian Navy, but Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik has already acknowledged that spending has exceeded the established budget ceiling. As a result, the government is working on a revision of the plan to align investments with the spending cap authorized by the Storting through 2036.
The main source of pressure comes from the submarine program. Parliament recently approved the purchase of two additional units, following a recommendation by the Chief of Defence, General Eirik Kristoffersen, who prioritizes submarine capability. At the same time, the cost of this program has nearly doubled and has already reached around 96 billion Norwegian kroner, under a contract signed with the German shipbuilder TKMS.
The debate also involves naval cooperation with the United Kingdom, which предусматривает the acquisition of new frigates produced by BAE Systems, but without a defined number of vessels. Faced with budget constraints, the government is considering cuts across several areas, and the frigates are among the programs under review, reflecting the difficult choices facing the country’s military modernization.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @Forsvarsdep | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
