Norway plans international expansion of major standardised vessel programme

The planned programme for standardised naval vessels could expand beyond Norway, with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (Forsvarsmateriell) expecting an estimated additional 10 vessels for international partners.

The detail appears in a published market consultation covering the future procurement of 28 standardised vessels for the Norwegian Navy. 

If realised, the programme could therefore total as many as 38 vessels, making it one of the largest upcoming maritime defence programmes in Europe region. 

According to the Norwegian ministry of defence, the programme is expected to amount to approximately NOK 72bn including only the 28 vessels.

Forsvarsmateriell has not specified which countries could participate in the programme or whether discussions with potential partners are already underway.

Several Baltic states, including Lithuania and Estonia, are currently exploring new patrol, mine warfare and multi-role vessel programmes, potentially aligning with the type of standardised platform Norway is now studying.

The agency is currently consulting industry on how the future competition should be structured, including production capacity, delivery capability, contract structure and whether the procurement should be split between multiple suppliers.

According to the notice, the vessels are expected to be built largely to civilian standards where appropriate while incorporating military capabilities required for naval operations.

A formal contract notice linked to the programme is expected to be published around 30 October 2026.