Sea
Norway’s programme to build 28 standardised naval vessels is facing delays.
According to Forsvarets Forum, delivery of the first ship will be at least two years later than originally planned.
The initial schedule envisaged first delivery in 2028, a timeline reiterated by both the Royal Norwegian Navy and the Ministry of Defence.
AdvertisementThe outlet reports that a senior spokesperson has now acknowledged the 2028 target is unrealistic, with the current best estimate placing initial delivery in 2030.
Earlier this month, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency selected six design teams to proceed in the competition phase, as noted in Metal Supply:
- Breeze Ship Design AS
- Kongsberg Maritime AS
- LMG Marin AS
- Salt Ship Design AS and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS in a joint supplier consortium
- Skipsteknisk AS
- Ulstein Design & Solutions AS
The 28 vessels are planned to comprise 10 larger oceangoing ships and 18 smaller coastal units.
A common hull design, shared systems and standardised components are intended to reduce lifecycle costs for operation, maintenance and training, while enabling a range of missions including mine countermeasures, surveillance and protection of critical infrastructure.
AdvertisementThe government has decided that construction will take place in Norway, securing contracts for domestic shipyards and suppliers.
One of the downselected designteams, Kongsberg Maritime, says it wants to continue and strengthen its role as an industrial partner to the Royal Norwegian Navy following its separation from Kongsberg Gruppen.
Advertisement- We are participating in the competition with our full product portfolio, including ship design and integrated system solutions for advanced vessels, said Per Håvard Siljan Hjukse, Executive Vice President at Kongsberg Maritime in January.
- For us, and for the Norwegian maritime cluster, this represents a unique opportunity we are keen to be part of.
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