On August 31, the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, announced the purchase of five or six British Type 26 frigates (also known as the “City” class) for €8.5 billion. This decision comes at the expense of the French Frigate of Defense and Intervention (FDI) from Naval Group, the German Meko A-400, and the American “Constellation.”

While this choice still requires confirmation from the Norwegian Parliament (the Storting), it raises several questions. Chief among them is BAE Systems’ ability to deliver the vessels to Oslo on the desired timeline, especially considering that the construction of the lead ship of the City class, HMS Glasgow, has faced delays and its sea trials are still pending. Furthermore, it is possible that some units eagerly awaited by the Royal Navy may ultimately be directed toward Norway.

Nevertheless, Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik expresses confidence in this choice.

“If we are purchasing new frigates, it is to hunt submarines. This will be their primary function: to deter Russia from entering the North Sea and the Atlantic with its submarines,” he stated in an interview with Bloomberg on September 3. In this regard, the FDI had strong arguments to present.

However, Sandvik continued, “Norwegian and British ships must be as identical as possible to optimize operational effectiveness and reduce costs, while potentially allowing for crew interchangeability.”

In this context, British Babcock International appears poised to capture another market from Naval Group, according to reports from Financial Times and Scandinavian media.

In June, the Ministry of Armed Forces indicated that Paris had proposed the FDI to Stockholm as part of Sweden’s “next-generation surface vessel” program. This came after confirming that the General Directorate of Armament (DGA) would begin contractual negotiations with Saab to acquire two initial GlobalEye advanced early warning aircraft to replace the four E-3F SDCA of the Air and Space Army.

However, the Financial Times reported “very positive” although “complex” discussions between London and Stockholm regarding the potential purchase of four Arrowhead-140/Type 31 frigates. This is occurring as Babcock International has formed a partnership with Saab Kockums in 2024.

A decision is expected from the Swedish government before the end of the year. However, it may be influenced by Denmark’s choice, with a source from the financial daily indicating that an agreement is “almost finalized.” This would involve the order of three Type 31 frigates.

This outcome would not be surprising given that the design of the Arrowhead-140/Type 31 is largely inspired by the Danish frigate Iver Huitfeldt.

For reference, the Type 31 frigate, displacing over 5,700 tons and measuring 138.7 meters, is designed to operate at a speed of 26 knots, powered by four MTU diesel engines. The version intended for the Royal Navy is equipped with the Sea Ceptor surface-to-air system, featuring two vertical launchers, a 57 mm turret, and two 40 mm guns. It is capable of accommodating a helicopter and an onboard aerial drone.

However, construction of the five vessels intended for the Royal Navy has also faced delays, with the commissioning of the lead ship, HMS Venturer, not expected before 2027.