What’s the price tag of security? For Norway, it’s a cool £10 billion—the amount it’s shelling out for at least five British-built Type 26 frigates.
The deal isn’t just big—it’s the UK’s biggest-ever warship export by value.
For Britain, the benefits are clear: 4,000 jobs secured “well into the 2030s,” most at BAE Systems’ shipyards in Glasgow.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called it proof that defence can “drive growth and protect national security for working people.”
So, why choose Britain over Germany, France, or even the U.S.?
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre put it bluntly: “Who is our most strategic partner?
And who has delivered the best frigates?… The answer to both is the United Kingdom.”
What Are The Critics Saying?
Still, not everyone in Norway is convinced. Naval captain Tor Ivar Strømmen argued that French and German ships have superior air defence.
His take? “The British Navy builds vessels for one role.”
But make no mistake—this isn’t just about steel and rivets. It’s about strategy.
Together, the UK and Norway will field 13 cutting-edge anti-submarine frigates.
They will form a joint shield in the North Atlantic against Russian subs.
As Defence Secretary John Healey put it: “Our navies will work as one.”
From Glasgow shipyards to Arctic waters, these warships are more than exports. They’re a statement.
Would you call that business—or deterrence with a British accent?
