UK Secures £10bn Norway Warship Deal Supporting 4,000 Jobs

BAE Systems in Glasgow has secured a £10 billion contract to build Type 26 frigates for the Norwegian Navy, creating a joint fleet of at least 13 anti-submarine ships shared between the UK and Norway. The deal will support around 2,000 jobs directly at BAE Systems and another 2,000 across the UK maritime supply chain, benefiting 103 Scottish businesses, including many SMEs. Both Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized the strategic importance of the agreement for European security and NATO cooperation, highlighting the partnership's role in countering increased Russian naval activity in northern Europe. The contract strengthens the longstanding defence ties between the UK and Norway, enabling their navies to train, operate, and potentially fight together while enhancing protection of critical infrastructure in the North Atlantic. The Glasgow shipyard is also currently building eight frigates for the Royal Navy, with Australia and Canada having licensed the Type 26 design for their own navies. This deal is seen as a major boost to jobs and growth, aligned with the UK government's broader Plan for Change industrial strategy.