Scotland’s shipbuilding industry has received a huge boost after Norway confirmed it will buy British Type 26 frigates in a £10 billion deal, with the vessels to be built on the Clyde.
The agreement secures around 2,000 jobs at BAE Systems’ Glasgow shipyards until the late 2030s and sustains a further 2,000 roles across the UK supply chain. It is also expected to support more than 100 Scottish businesses, including 54 small and medium enterprises.
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said the announcement highlighted both the industrial and strategic importance of the decision. “Norway’s decision to choose Scottish-built frigates demonstrates the tremendous success of our shipbuilding industry and showcases the world-class skills and expertise of our workforce on the Clyde. This contract is another ‘defence dividend’ for Scotland and supports thousands of jobs and reinforces Scotland’s vital contribution to both UK prosperity and international security. The deal demonstrates that when we back Scottish industry, it delivers for communities, workers, and our allies.”
The Royal Norwegian Navy will receive at least five frigates, adding to the eight already on order for the Royal Navy, creating a combined fleet of 13 advanced anti-submarine warfare ships operating jointly in northern waters. The move deepens long-standing UK–Norwegian cooperation in the North Atlantic and strengthens NATO’s ability to counter growing Russian submarine activity.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the deal was an example of government policy delivering at home and abroad. “This £10 billion deal is what our Plan for Change is about – creating jobs, driving growth and protecting national security for working people.”
Defence Secretary John Healey underlined the wider alliance impact, describing it as a deepening of the UK–Norway partnership. “With Norway, we will train, operate, deter, and – if necessary – fight together. Our navies will work as one, leading the way in NATO, with this deal putting more world-class warships in the North Atlantic to hunt Russian submarines, protect our critical infrastructure, and keep both our nations secure.”
For Scotland, the industrial implications are clear. Alongside the jobs secured on the Clyde, Ferguson Marine at Port Glasgow has already joined the Type 26 supply chain, fabricating modules for HMS Birmingham. Across the country, suppliers from electronics to steel are expected to benefit as the work ramps up.
The frigates themselves are designed specifically for anti-submarine warfare, with stealth, sensors and endurance tailored to the North Atlantic environment. By joining the Type 26 programme, Norway becomes the fourth nation to adopt the design after the UK, Australia and Canada, creating a global user base of more than 30 ships.
The decision comes ahead of a new bilateral defence agreement between London and Oslo that will further formalise cooperation, linking industry, training and operations.
Scitish support for it’s shipbuilding industry. Whatever next.
All very nice for Starmer to make a claim about “plan for change” but Norway started this process back in 2020/21. I’m more interested to see what is coming under the industrial defence announcement this autumn.
This is brilliant news! Fantastic for Scottish jobs, am sure loads more up and down the country and reduces boom and bust cycles. Plus of course all the military advantages. 4 countries now on board with this ship.
Ony downside is Labour will try and get credit and say they support business, when lots of other businesses have been going to the wall due to their policies.
Good news but in my opinion we need more type 26 ( at least 2) and we need to accelerate the Type 83. We don’t have the capacity
You are 100% right about that Michael.
a few more ships and Norwegian Navy will be larger than RN!
Hopefully more work blocks from Cammel laird. This with the addtional work Babcock is doing with Sweden on their new class of ship is great. Australia and Portugal are also taking notes on the 6th gen programs.
This is really great news but the details of the deal will be interesting. There was talk that the Norwegian Navy wanted their ships quickly which might require the RN to give up some of their earlier build slots as part of the deal. Although the article says the deal will secure jobs out to the late 2030’s it doesn’t say anything about the order in which ships will be delivered, which will be the interesting piece of infomation.
It would also be good if the RN could have 3 or 4 T26 tagged onto the end of the production run. I believe that there may still be capacity to increase the production rate of these ships. For example, BAE System’s original plan was to build the frigate factory at Scotstoun rather than Govan so is there still room to construct a second build hall at Scotstoun? Given the need to get on with the T83, speeding up the T26 would be a helpful move…
Cheers CR
Obviously this is an excellent news story and places the type 26 at the forefront of NATOs frigate force. I’m surprised £10 billion will only purchase 5 or more vessels. I’d have hoped Norway could get 7+ ships for that price unless they are significantly upgrading the type 26 like the Aussies are doing into a mini AEGIS cruiser?
The RN according to SDSR is supposed to be going back upto at least 25 frigates and destroyers….yet no additional orders placed. We are missing “at least” 6 vessels. I’d like to see two more type 26s and at least 4 Type 32s at least (based on type 31 hull and machinery)
“protecting national security for working people”
Eh?