OSLO, — The UK Royal Navy will acquire three Norwegian Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs) to support uncrewed mine-hunting operations under a new defence agreement between the United Kingdom and Norway. The commitment was announced by UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Norwegian Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik at the Atlantic Future Forum in Oslo.
The UK will join Norway’s P1118 Standardised Vessel Programme through the government-to-government Maritime Capability Partnership Framework. The first vessel is expected to be delivered in 2031, with an option to purchase three additional ships. The UK has allocated an additional £90 million in its Defence Investment Plan for the initial acquisition.
The vessels will act as motherships for autonomous and uncrewed mine-countermeasure systems, carrying, launching and recovering equipment used to detect and dispose of sea mines. This approach will keep sailors away from dangerous minefields while supporting the Royal Navy’s Hybrid Navy concept and anti-submarine warfare capabilities on NATO’s northern flank.
The agreement is also linked to Norway’s £10 billion purchase of British-built Type 26 frigates, announced in December 2025. The deal supports approximately 4,000 jobs across the UK supply chain, including more than 2,000 at BAE Systems' Glasgow shipyards. Operating similar platforms is expected to improve cooperation between the two navies.
The announcement comes amid renewed concerns over maritime security following disruptions caused by Iranian mine-laying in the Strait of Hormuz, which affected international energy trade.
Other maritime investments announced alongside the agreement include Atlantic Net, a £90 million programme awarded to Ocean Infinity to deploy autonomous systems and advanced sensors for monitoring underwater threats across the North Atlantic. British defence company Arondite also announced a £35 million investment over five years to establish an office in Oslo and expand its European operations.
The three Norwegian vessels will strengthen the Royal Navy's mine-hunting capabilities while deepening defence cooperation with Norway and supporting maritime security across NATO's northern flank.
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