The contract is expected to support and create thousands of jobs over the next decade.Craig Paton, PA Scotland Deputy Political Editor and Gemma Ryder Reporter
17:27, 31 Aug 2025
Eight frigates are already being contructed for the Royal Navy.(Image: UK MOD © Crown copyright 2023)
Warships for Norway’s navy are to be built on the Clyde as part of a massive £10 billion deal, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
The Type 26 frigates will be constructed at BAE Systems’ Govan yard in Glasgow, where work is already under way on eight vessels for the Royal Navy.
The new order will see at least five frigates delivered to Norway, boosting a combined fleet of 13 UK and Norwegian anti-submarine ships. The move is aimed at strengthening northern Europe’s defences amid rising Russian military activity.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer learned of the decision during a call with his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store on Saturday night.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said the decision marks an “important and historic moment for European security”.
The contract is expected to support 2,000 job at BAE in the coming years and a further 2,000 in the supply chain into the latter part of the next decade, with 103 Scottish businesses hoped to benefit.
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Sir Keir said: “This £10 billion deal is what our Plan for Change is about – creating jobs, driving growth and protecting national security for working people.
“This Government has forged new partnerships across the world to deliver for people at home and the export of our world leading Type 26 frigates to Norway will do exactly that, supporting well-paid jobs up and down the United Kingdom, from apprentices to engineers.
“This success is testament to the thousands of people across the country who are not just delivering this next generation capabilities for our armed forces, but also national security for the UK, our Norwegian partners and Nato for years to come.”
Sir Keir Starmer(Image: Getty)
Defence Secretary John Healey said the deal “deepens our strategic partnership” with Norway.
“With Norway, we will train, operate, deter, and – if necessary – fight together,” he said.
“Our navies will work as one, leading the way in Nato, with this deal putting more world-class warships in the North Atlantic to hunt Russian submarines, protect our critical infrastructure, and keep both our nations secure.”
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said the decision shows the “tremendous success” of Scotland’s shipbuilding industry and is an example of another “defence dividend” for the country.