The UK and Norway have agreed to intensify joint operations in the North Atlantic in response to a documented 30 percent rise in Russian naval activity near UK waters over the past two years, the UK Defence Journal understands.
The announcement accompanied Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Støre’s visit to RAF Lossiemouth, where both leaders met maritime patrol crews tracking Russian vessels such as the intelligence ship Yantar.
According to the UK Government, the centrepiece of the Lunna House Agreement is closer cooperation built around upcoming British-built Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigates operated by both navies. The arrangement aims to create a fully interoperable force able to monitor Russian submarine movements and protect undersea infrastructure including pipelines and data cables.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the increase in Russian activity underscored the need for closer cooperation. “At this time of profound global instability, as more Russian ships are being detected in our waters, we must work with international partners to protect our national security,” he said. “This historic agreement with Norway strengthens our ability to protect our borders and the critical infrastructure our nations depend on.”
The agreement follows the September deal under which Norway ordered at least five Type 26 frigates, joining the UK’s eight-ship programme. The Government describes it as the largest British warship export contract to date, supporting more than 4,000 jobs.
Defence Secretary John Healey framed the effort as part of a broader shift toward reinforced northern security. “In this new era of threat and with increasing Russian activity in the North Atlantic, our strength comes from hard power and strong alliances,” he said. He added that “for over 75 years, the UK and Norway have stood shoulder to shoulder on NATO’s northern flank,” and that the new framework will see the two forces “patrol the North Atlantic as one, train together in the Arctic, and develop the advanced equipment that will keep our citizens safe.”
Beyond surface-ship cooperation, the agreement widens industrial and technological links. London will join Norway’s programme to develop offshore support vessels that will act as motherships for uncrewed minehunting and undersea-warfare systems. The Government says this will accelerate the shift toward autonomous capability in the High North, an area NATO has identified as increasingly exposed to Russian undersea activity.
Other measures include year-round Royal Marines cold-weather training in Norway, expanded collaboration on Sting Ray torpedoes, adoption of Norwegian naval strike missiles for Royal Navy ships, and joint wargaming initiatives intended to align operational planning.
