According to a poll conducted by Nettavisen, nearly half of respondents—49%—favoured the UK as Norway’s preferred supplier for its next-generation frigates, significantly ahead of the United States, Germany, and France.
The poll, which gathered responses from almost 8,000 verified users, comes as the Norwegian government prepares to decide on its largest-ever naval defence investment.
The procurement will see at least five new frigates acquired to replace the aging Fridtjof Nansen-class vessels.
The UK’s overwhelming lead in the poll reflects the close security ties between Norway and Britain, particularly within NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). British warships, particularly the advanced Type 26 design, have been recognised for their cutting-edge anti-submarine warfare capabilities, a key requirement for Norway’s future fleet.
The United States, long considered a key ally, received significantly less support, highlighting concerns among some Norwegian politicians about the direction of US foreign policy under Donald Trump’s administration.
The choice of supplier has sparked political debate in Norway, particularly regarding whether the United States should remain a contender. Left-leaning parties, including the Socialist Left Party (SV) and the Red Party, argue that Norway should distance itself from US-built warships in favour of European alternatives.
“Norway and the USA do not share the same strategic interests,” said SV’s defence spokesperson Ingrid Fiskaa in comments to Nettavisen. “Trump’s ‘America First’ approach should serve as a warning for Norway to avoid further dependence on US defence suppliers.”
Red Party defence spokesperson Bjørnar Moxnes expressed similar concerns, referencing warnings from former NATO commanders and Norwegian defence officials about the long-term reliability of US security guarantees.
Meanwhile, Germany and France remain in the race.
Final Decision Approaching
The Norwegian government is expected to make its final selection later this year. With the UK winning nearly half the public vote, there is clear momentum behind British-built frigates as the preferred option. However, strategic, political, and economic considerations will ultimately shape the final decision.
The poll results underscore the strong defence ties between the UK and Norway, particularly as both nations focus on securing the North Atlantic and Arctic regions against growing threats.
Deer? Please enlighten us.
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I’m guessing having a lure for the jokers helps keep the poll accurate
i think deer has a good offer too, but it’ll take longer for him to build a warship, what with hooves and all
And it’s really difficult to get a welding mask over antlers. Career options for deer in the shipbuilding industry are sadly lacking.
…. and here was I thinking their pedigree was more with agricultural machinery?!?! Maybe they’re looking to diversify by ploughing the oceans for subs?
Don’t be silly ‘deer’ is the short form for “Reindeer Collective’. During the off season from Christmas the reindeer manufacture armaments (but only for nations not on the naughty list).
Father Christmas has fingers in many pies. Obviously ship building is one of his off season side lines.
Something must be done about the creeping threat from the cervid military industrial complex
Assuming the UK design win, will Norway build it under licence in their dockyards?
Given the fast delivery dates the Norwegian government wants I’m going to assume not
“Assuming the UK design win, will Norway build it under licence in their dockyards?”
No, the Norwegian shipyards will be busy with building 27 other ships for the Navy.
OMG it took me a while to catch on Levi, good one!
It’s staggering that deer didn’t win.
Great pun.
Winner.
Doe…..
Oh…dear.
I’m suprised that USA was ever in the running on this.
The Tangerine Toddler’s outbursts re Greenland will have skewed that one…..
I’m optimistic about it being T26 which is an amazing success story for the class.
T31 isn’t doing so badly either….assuming one of the UK ones ever floats off…..
It’s something we as Brit’s don’t appreciate but the power of our reputation is very powerful every where. From Washington to Paris and Berlin, Tokyo Anne Rhaid everyone is chasing us.
Nice position to be in, that the advantage of having 300 years of always honouring alliances, contracts and commitments.
We should capitalise on this in the future. We are not a massive nation but we are still very much the centre of the world.
I lived in former British colonies for 15 years and it’s often quite amazing from Sri Lanka to Malaysia and even Singapore how many people say I wish the British woukd come back.
40,000 people a year fleeing France and swimming the English Chanel says something.
Now America is stepping back I think we are the only country that can hold the line and keep the western world together.
But it requires ambition.
Stopping:-
– being embarrassed about XYZ.
– defeatist hand wringing
– trying to use all the countries wealth to subsidise fairness
The other problem is that that basics of what made the UK famous – justice and fairness have dissolved before our eyes into ‘efficient’ process such as SJP and massive authoritarian overreach.
I agree, we lack ambition and self belief
Jim, 300 years of always honouring alliances, contracts and commitments – Czech Republic? The Ukraine? Hong Kong?
Can we agree to disagree on this one?
Czechs are literally taught to dislike us because of what we did to them. Hand over Hong Kong but fail to challenge China over human rights? Bail on Afghanistan because of the Trumpster? Britain’s role over the last 300 years in the world has been a nightmare.
You mention knowledge of Sri Lanka, I know it as well: we might have give the great systems, what we did not instil in them was the rule of law – and fairly, we have failed in many countries.
Britain should stay away from leadership.
At no point did Britain ever have defence treaty with Ukraine or Czechoslovakia. Britain had a lease on Hong Kong and when it expired it returned it.
Yes what a terrible 300 years it has been. I think you might find that if wasn’t for Britain’s and it’s Empire the world might have been a very different place and not for the better. Unless you think Napoleon, The Kaiser, Hirohito and Hitler were just misunderstood. Then of course we had that disastrous industrial revolution, which ushered in the modern world as we know it with huge social changes improving education, welfare and workers rights.
Britain’s history is far too complicated for generalised statements such as yours as anyone who cares to read about our history knows.
I think you’ll find that if any nations harmed the Czechs in the last century that would Germany and the Soviet Union, not the UK.
When our late queen passed away I would go over to St James Park and Buckingham Palace everyday. I was struck by how many people from all over the world came to pay there respects. From Chile, Peru, Indonesia, Japan, the Middle East, African nations. Even Chinese and Russians. Anywhere you can think of. I asked them why they was here. And mostly through broken English the answer was always the same. “We love the UK. We love the Royal Family”., Soft power is underrated. The only people who don’t like Brits are Brits. Yet whenever the shit hits the fan everyone turns to us. We’ve always showed up in the face of adversity. If we say we’ve got your back, we mean it. Our forefathers and today’s men and women in uniform are testament to that. Your right us Brits don’t appreciate the power of our reputation. But we should!!
Nicely said too Nevis!
I think down here in Australia and New Zealand too the UK is still respected and appreciated as part of our cultural background even with the past being far from perfect. The UK will be continue to be respected if it remains honest and courageous enough to deal with that and defend the sovereignty of the oppressed. Plus the British sense of humour of course! The best of all exports from the 🇬🇧!!
Generally the same feeling in Canada.
Cobblers. Utter bollards. We love the Royal Family is on a par with we love the Kardashians, in that how did nobodies get to be paid by everybody for dressing up – I want to be them.
Britain should get back in the box, head low and stfu.
“It’s something we as Brit’s don’t appreciate but the power of our reputation is very powerful every where.”
Indeed, Britain have extreme high regard in Norway, it’s not only that you answered our call for help in 1940 when we got invaded by Nazi Germany, we been training together since WW2 ended, there been consistency and proven capability. Norwegian squadrons still have their old RAF numbers and when the fighting for Norway was over in 1940, Royal Navy took government, Royal House and gold reserves over to UK, the exile government continued fighting from London until the end. We do not forget that. Norway was perfectly fine with outcome at Yalta, we was placed under the British sphere of influence, Stalin respected that and pulled Red Army out of northern Norway in 1945.
Norwegians have no illusions that Brits are softies during war, you ain’t, but we rather be with someone we trust who are good fighters, than someone else. The British Empire is history, but your legacy is alive, we trust Brits to be a good partner during dark times and having a moral compass.
Not just empty words this, when Finland-Sweden applied for NATO membership, they noticed who came with security guarantees. UK have a special place and the Nordics will follow your lead. The UK military is at a historical low point, but get RAF, Royal Navy and JEF in shape, then we will be happy to join. 😉
Yeah given the Batch 1 Type 26 Frigate are too far along to be changed, there is a very strong likelihood that the Batch 2 Type 26 might have its American weapons and systems replaced by a European equal before the class is fully in service
Other than the Mk41 VLS, I don’t know enough to know which systems you might mean. Perhaps you could elaborate on which systems and weapons?
The 5 inch gun and Phalanx CIWS, as well as some of the missiles going into the Mk41 I believe.
It’s way too late to cancel the 5″ gun, unfortunately. The contract for the second batch of frigates guns was made two years ago, £181m for 5 systems. I don’t know about the Phalanx.
Which American missiles are planned to be used? I thought that the two variants of the FC/ASW were the only missiles intended to be housed in the Mk41.
Phalanx could be fairly easily replaced with the 40mm, and the 5 inch by the Italian equivalent.
“ Phalanx could be fairly easily replaced with the 40mm”
Or the two 30mm are just changed to two 40mm and delete the Phalanx?
40mm has range and hitting power on its side.
Changing the US 5” for the ITL 5” would be very hard as it has a lot of below decks gubbins that is build in.
@Leh:
FC/ASW will require LM to integrate it into Mk41. Look at how long Meteor on F-35 took for comparison.
Then:
Tomahawk is already listed as a candidate for T-26 Mk41 launchers, which is already in UK service, and ASROC is on the RN’s T-26 wish list. So yes, American missiles in Mk41 is a big deal.
30mm being changed to 40mm is probably a lot easier than Phalanx being replaced, since Phalanx is a fully autonomous system while 40mm requires input from the ship.
5 inch swap would not be easy though.
Remind mw, what goes in the Mk41?
FC/ASW is about the only thing announced so far, I believe.
Is there a European/MBDA equivalent of Asroc? And what about the option of Sylver vls onto the T26s?
@Quentin
I can only think of the Italian MBDA Milas, an Otomat derivative. Originally it was Franco-Italian, but the French dropped out. Both Japan and South Korea have current equivalents too and India has something under test.
The UK used to have systems in the past. We bought Ikara from the Aussies in the 70’s, which after the CVAs were cancelled, ended up on Bristol and some of the Leanders. There was an updated version called Super Ikara in the late 80s, but we lost interest and I don’t think it was ever operationally deployed.
I would rather see us develop something that could take Mod 2 Sting Ray than rush to buy in from abroad.
Would put Japanese version ASROC in. Twice speed and range of US versions.
Unlikely – the Type 07 has some serious export controls attached.
Just, no. Very unlikely
There is no Norwegian requirement to replace US systems with European systems, what matters more is military capability, we want the best sensors, radars and weapon systems. Not interested in French specific systems, want NATO interoperability and standard kit. We have Russian Northern Fleet next door, not after peacetime solution, but best platform to hunt the best submarines outside NATO. We want to be able to hunt and defend against Yasen-M class.
Glad to see Deere entering the fray. They make bloody good tractors.
The green and yellow colour scheme might not be to the Norwegian public’s taste for their frigates.
But they might want to buck the trend…
Not fawn now.
It’s only an opinion poll, but interesting to see France last given that that their bid seems to be considered the favourite – assuming the poll is recent I would have expected the USA to be bottom of the pile. Given that politicians will make the final decision, that may just give UK and the T26 the vital edge.
Not really surprised. France is for…France, after all. The UK and Norway have links going back centuries, but particularly since WW2. Basically Norway and UK trust each other and have shared interests in the NorthAtlantic and high North.
Well, well! What do we have here 😁
Norwegians showing a huge interest in a European built warship
polls of people not involved in the decision process don’t mean anything.
Trump will threaten Norway and they will buy american.
What can Trump threaten Norway with? They make huge amounts of money through oil & gas, energy independent and have the biggest savings account in the world.
It’s an interesting way of including the public in the Defence debate, very Scandinavian and I’m pretty sure it will effect the Political thought process.
We just need to remember that Norway is probably unique in the European NATO community in the fact that they have very, very deep pockets and tend to buy the best kit around that fits their needs. I can understand their reasoning on this, when you consider where those ships will operate, in the Far Northern Atlantic and North Cape. If they look west what will they see, yep RN T26 and RCN River class so as commonality is on their list of requirements it makes sense.
IMHO the biggest hurdle to us building T26 for Norway is our own “little Britain and need our ships first” attitude, we need to have the courage to understand that when you are in a close functioning alliance it’s the numbers and capability that count not the Flag on each ship.
So to those people I’d say this there would be 8 T26 operating to defend NATO in exactly the same timescale, in exactly the same waters but in the longer term there would be 13 or 14 doing so and if the costs are reduced due to volume possibly a few more for ourselves.
It’s time for Britannia to grow a pair and embrace export as being a very smart strategic move.
Oh and if Norway does opt for the T26 it just adds weight to argument that the USN may just have bought the wrong Frigate !
It is not little Britain thinking to be very concerned about any further delays in the entry into service of the new frigates but understanding the condition of the remaining Type 23s and releasing we can probably only deploy 5 escorts, perhaps 6 at a push and cannot afford any further ships to be decommissioned without replacement. Let’s be clear this is a huge national security risk with size of the RN a national embarrassment.
To be pragmatic about things I would snap the arm of the Norwegians for the order and with BAE now speeding up production with significant investment in the shipyard if we need to pass on one of the first three to secure the deal then I would be all for it on the grounds that:
1. The Norwegians coordinate the deployment of their first ship with the RN to meet our mutual security requirements until we have more of our own ships available.
2. With the cost per unit coming down we order another 2 for ourselves. This is now more realistic with defence spending heading for 3% GDP over the next 8 to 10 years, which would nicely coincide with the manufacture of our later ships. At the same time another 3 to 5 type 31s to keep Babcock busy now seems feasible given the anticipated uplift in the defence budget.
Long term there must be a plan to return escorts number to at least 24 and ideally 30. No longer fantasy fleets but realistic given the new geo political situation.
Fingers crossed the orders comes our way and we see that renaissance in British shipbuilding exports.
(First time post) I am all for an early T26 being allocated for Norway to buy. A T26 operated by the Norwegian navy between Greenland, Iceland and Norway would be doing exactly the same job as a T26 operated by the RN. We could then build extra T26s at the end of the programme or licence to Norway to get more in the water sooner.
Welcome.
SDSR 1998 is the fleet baseline now.
Problem is that is going to take a capital fund to rebuild. Germany are talking €300Bn across all forces. As we have fallen so short for so, so long we may well need similar for capital expenditure with the 2.5% being the OPEX budget.
SDSR should always have stayed the fleet baseline. The conservative and Labour governments of that past are all guilty as hell
10-12 AAW destroyers
10 ASW frigates
10 GP frigates
12 SSNs
That is the minimum requirement for major surface and sub surface combatants in a peacetime stable world…now it’s gone to Shite we should actually be building up from that.
Simply put the following should have happened
1) the first astute class should have been laid down in 1993/4 with 12 ordered
2) T45 laid down in 1998 with 10-12 ordered
3) T26/31 laid down in 2010 20 ordered
Re point 1 yes I remember that very well, no apprentices being taken on, voluntary severance left right and centre, in Derby the entire place being run on a shoe string and lucky for some who were up at Vulcan.
It may seem strange but I don’t think the 1998 SDSR would be an ideal baseline for 2025. My reasoning is that the threat is different, the capability of our assets are greater and there are now other calls on resources which just didn’t figure back then.
The Russian Navy is a shadow of what it was in 1998 and when they lost the Ukraine they can never get it back to where it was. But what they have concentrated on is Asymmetrical Warfare and undersea snooping / sabotage which needs resources to counter.
I’d say it could be an aspiration to aim for 1998 levels but I’d accept 10 ASW Frigates, 10 AAW destroyer, 10 SSNs and 8 GP Frigates. But to maximise that Force level I’d add a class of 8 Corvette sized ASW for home water & SSBM / SSN de lousing to free up the Frigate Tasking (it’s what the MN is doing with their new PH class). It’s always interesting to look at ship numbers but if it were an overall uplift in capability being funded I’d order up 40/50 new generation Merlin ASW Helicopters so that every hanger has one (even on the RFA).
The vital area that wasn’t so important back then is underwater surveillance and defence of pipelines / comms and power inter-connectors. So way more MROSS / SURTASS capable ships and we probably need to design / instal a European version IUSS as we just can’t trust or rely on the US anymore. After all they just blinded the Ukraine and restricted their use of the Storm Shadow / SCALP missiles by banning us from passing on the US supplied TERCOM targeting data.
Absolutely the right answer with some adjustment over time to cater for autonomous vessels and protection of our undersea infrastructure.
“ IMHO the biggest hurdle to us building T26 for Norway is our own “little Britain and need our ships first” attitude, we need to have the courage to understand that when you are in a close functioning alliance it’s the numbers and capability that count not the Flag on each ship.”
And there will be very stressed people trying to make these calls – navy people who have been sold down the road firstly in delays to the orders then in slipping the ordered ships knowing the ships really are needed.
Politicians who know there is a need for fighting strength, particularly ASW, as that is where Russia invests. But also know that moving shipbuilding up through the gears is vital as is the dream of exporting major British built ships again. Those two things keep unions very happy.
“IMHO the biggest hurdle to us building T26 for Norway is our own “little Britain and need our ships first” attitude…”
It may just be just a case of the Norwegian Navy wanting one first in a more advance stage of construction, so the RNN can start trailing and training crews with it by 2029.
To be honest I think what has happened geopolitically over that last 3 weeks has change my view on the balance of this.
Three weeks ago I would have said that the T23s don’t seem to be lasting beyond their 6-7 year refit period after lifex and therefore will all be gone by 2031/32 and linked to this we will likely be dragging into to a sino US war in the pacific within that timeframe the RN needed all its first batch of 3 for the inevitability of sending a GBG to fight in the pacific.
Now I think we need to do everything we can to strengthen out defence industry as well as our ties with our European allies, especially Northern European allies as well as strengthen our Northern European allies and the likelihood of our involvement in any pacific is negligible.
We share the North Sea and beyond with Norway it’s our nato commitment to reinforce the northern flank. Norway and uk could easily benefit from working closer and agree what flag on the mast right now less important.
TBH – there’s still a huge amount of positive feeling from ordinary Norwegians towards the U.K. for our assistance during WW2; they haven’t forgotten. So I imagine this, rather than the relevant merits of the frigate designs, is what influenced this opinion poll the most.
I wonder now if there’s any possibility of the UK buying into the Norwegian German SSKN program, maybe for an interim fleet of 4 to release the 7 Astutes for ops further afield, considering all the exercises and P8s ops done together? Any purchase of a Norwegian T26 could have a good rub on effect on the RNs T26s. Mutual demands for mutual gain.
No, we’re not buying SSKs. The Type 93 UUV will complement the Astutes.
Cobblers. Utter bollards. We love the Royal Family is on a par with we love the Kardashians, in that how did nobodies get to be paid by everybody for dressing up – I want to be them.
Britain should get back in the box, head low and stfu.
You have to hope for a T26 order, for a start it would extend the T26 production run, potentially lower costs on a Batch 4 (Norwegian B3) order for more UK ships – lobby the pollies for 12*T26; today there is no crew, but by the time these ships get built, the pipeline should have been put in place to deliver bods,
From my somewhat ignorant poe, type 26 seems like a no brainer.
Designed to to the job they want, in the place they will be doing it.
The UK will still have 8 T26 as a minimum so the weapons already ordered will be used in those ships. Norweigian versions coild have differenet fit providing they dont modify too much! The bigger question is whether any of the hulls already scheduled or under construction are going to be diverted to meet Norways needs and whether the T26 build programme can be accelerated or expanded. The new BAE frigate factory is in use so the old build halls provide some room to expand production if the workforce can also be expanded. That would be preferable to delays in supplying T26 for royal navy.
Your questions already have answers – (1) If Norway chooses the Type 26 either Belfast or Birmingham will be diverted to them as soon as is practical.(2) Measures have already been taken to speed up the Construction schedules..
More space will improve production speed as the need for bizarre and tight choreography is reduced.
SB it’s nothing compared to the 5 T45’s assembled at Govan that was Ballet and I just wish I could have visited when they were assembling those blocks on the slipway (which is still there).
Mmm the old halls you refer to are where the hull blocks are built and pre outfitted (SBOH) they then get transferred to the new Assembly hall to be joined up. So so no that doesn’t boost the capacity as you can’t assemble them outside anymore. What does is speeding the entire end to end process up which is what BAe said last year. From what I can see the area they need to concentrate on now is the outfitting down at Scotstoun.
But who’s to say that Norway couldn’t outfit their own T26 just like the Dutch do with their Romanian built ships 🤔
Thanks all for filling in the blanks. Sounds like all the obvious options to speed up delivery are being covered.