The Norwegian government has awarded BAE Systems a contract to build five to six frigates, strengthening its defense partnership with the UK, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said on Sunday.
Valued at about 100 billion kroner ($10 billion), the contract is among Norway’s largest defense procurements. BAE secured the deal over competitors from France, Germany, and the U.S., despite high-level lobbying efforts from their leaders.
“Decades of integration between our navies and the proven performance of the British frigates made this the right choice,” Støre noted.
In response, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed the announcement as a £10 billion ($13.5 billion) export deal, highlighting that the Type 26 program will sustain thousands of jobs across the UK shipbuilding industry.
