Norway has contracted Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace for about 400 million kroner ($42 million) to enhance the combat capabilities of the Royal Norwegian Navy’s Skjold-class fast attack vessels.
The modernization package will upgrade the ships’ combat management systems and boost overall availability. It follows a 2022 agreement that initiated the class’ ongoing upgrade program, ensuring the vessels remain operationally relevant decades after entering service.
Improvements will see four ships fitted with advanced fire-control radar systems and new electro-optical sensors, improving their ability to counter small, fast-moving aerial threats such as unmanned systems, while preserving the precision of their 76mm main guns. Installation begins immediately, with the first upgraded platform expected in 2026.
Primarily tasked with safeguarding Norway’s coastal waters and economic zone, the Skjold-class conducts patrol, surveillance, search and rescue, anti-smuggling, and environmental monitoring missions in peacetime. In wartime, the vessels assume expanded roles including intelligence operations, maritime security, anti-surface combat, convoy escort, and anti-invasion duties in coordination with broader naval forces.
The 47-meter craft features a 13.5-meter beam, a displacement of 260 tonnes, and a top speed of 105 kilometers per hour. It can maintain 85 kilometers per hour in moderate sea conditions and operate with a 15-person crew. Cruising at 74 kilometers per hour, it offers a range of about 1,480 kilometers. Its weapons suite includes eight Naval Strike Missiles with ranges exceeding 150 kilometers, a Mistral short-range air defense missile, and a 76mm Oto Melara Super Rapid naval gun.
