UK and Norway Forge Joint โขNaval โขForceโ to Counter Russian Submarine Activity
LONDON -โ Britain and Norway are cementing a landmark defense partnership, uniting their naval forces inโ aโ bolstered effort to track and deter Russian submarine activity in the โขNorth Atlantic.The collaboration, formalized today with the signing of the lunnaโ House agreement โby UK Defence Secretary John healey and his Norwegian counterpart Tore Sandvik, builds uponโค a ยฃ10 billionโข deal signed in September, marking Britain’s first sale of new warships โคin over half a century.
The agreement will see the creation โฃof a combined Norwegian-UK submarine hunting fleet, strengthening NATO‘s northern flank โamid increasing โฃconcerns over Russian naval โpresence.It also encompasses joint training exercises for Royal Marines in sub-zero conditions, deepened collaboration on UK-built Sting Ray torpedoes, joint wargaming, and โฃthe adoption of autonomous systems in the High North.
This intensified cooperation comes as Russian submarine activity in the region has risen sharply, with aโ 30 percent increase in Russian vessels sightedโฃ in UK waters over the past โtwo years. The partnershipโฃ aims to safeguard critical undersea infrastructure and โmaintain security in the strategicallyโค vital North Atlantic.
Under theโฃ terms of the deal, Oslo will purchase at least five British-built sub-hunting frigates, sharing ships and crews with the Royal Navy. The UK will โฃalso โฃadopt advancedโ Norwegianโข Naval strike Missiles, capable of engagingโฃ enemy ships at ranges exceeding โค100 miles.
“This deal โฃwill create a combined Norwegian-UK submarine hunting fleet to strengthen Nato’s northern flank,” stated โฃDefence Secretary John Healey.”Young people at school today in Norway and the UK will โhave the โchance to crew together on these ships.”
The first of the new Type 26 โwarships, HMS Glasgow, isโค slated to enter British Navy service with โขNorwegian sailors onboard. โMoreover,โ the UK will join Norway’s program to developโข motherships for uncrewed โmine huntingโ and undersea warfare systems, showcasing Britain’s world-class shipbuilding capabilities and supporting thousands of UK โjobs.
