Kongsberg’s naval bid could engage 1,200 subcontractors across Norway

Kongsberg is one of six contenders for what could become the largest defence contract in the Nordic region in decades, as Norway moves forward with plans to procure up to 28 standardised naval vessels.

The companies have submitted design proposals for the programme, which is intended to replace multiple existing vessel classes with a more unified and flexible fleet structure.

- It is exciting, says Kyrre Lohne, while noting that he is not a shipbuilding specialist.

Defence Nordic met the Kongsberg executive at an EDF event in Copenhagen, where he commented on the company’s bid for the upcoming major procurement.

- We hope that a selection will be made soon, Lohne says.

According to Lohne, the aim is to sign a contract later this year, with first deliveries expected between 2029 and 2030. He expects the downselection to take place within weeks.

- It is a major project, he adds.

1.200 subcontractors

The programme remains in an early phase, with no official contract value yet defined.

An industry-commissioned estimate by Menon Economics has placed the total acquisition cost in the range of NOK 38-84 billion (2024 prices), underlining both the scale of the procurement and the uncertainty around final design, size and configuration.

Kongsberg has stated that their submission, the Vanguard project, could involve as many as 1,200 subcontractors, pointing to a broad industrial footprint across the Norwegian maritime sector.

Consultants from Menon Economics estimate - in an analysis commissioned by Kongsberg - that the programme could generate around 56,000 full-time equivalents over its lifetime.

The vessels are expected to cover a wide range of missions, including mine countermeasures, surveillance and protection of critical infrastructure, placing significant demands on flexibility and system integration.

- What makes these vessels, and particularly Vanguard, distinct is that the vessel itself is not the most important element. It is what you add in terms of unmanned systems and associated capabilities, the Kongsberg executive notes.

- Those capabilities are what define the vessel. The mothership is simply a platform.

A competetive design

The concept reflects a broader shift in naval thinking, where platforms are increasingly designed to act as carriers for sensors, weapons and autonomous systems rather than as standalone capabilities.

At the same time, the move towards standardisation with shared hull designs, systems and components is intended to reduce lifecycle costs and simplify training, maintenance and logistics across the fleet.

That approach, however, also increases the importance of integration and long-term operability, as multiple systems and mission profiles must function within a common platform.

Lohne highlights Kongsberg’s role as a prime contractor and experienced systems integrator.

- This is a strong opportunity. We believe we have a competitive design, and we will see what happens next, Kyrre Lohne says.

He notes, that on 14 March, following a visit to Norway, Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney issued a statement emphasising growing defence industrial cooperation between Canada and Norway, notes Lohne.

This is reflected, among other initiatives, in a 9.6 million dollar contract awarded to the joint venture Kongsberg Vanguard LP, a partnership between Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Salt Ship Design and Ottawa-based Adaptive Marine Solutions.

The joint venture will design the Canadian Coast Guard’s future mid-shore multi-mission vessels under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.