Germany’s thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Norway’s Ulstein Verft have teamed up for a potential bid to build Norway’s next-generation frigates.
The Royal Norwegian Navy is looking to replace its Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates — designed for anti-submarine warfare and armed with eight Naval Strike Missiles — with a new fleet of five to six advanced warships.
Outlined in the 2024 Fleet Plan, the competition includes top contenders like the British Type 26, German F127, American Constellation class, and French FDI.
Built in Norway
If thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Ulstein Verft win the contract, much of the construction will happen on home soil — boosting Norway’s shipbuilding industry.
“thyssenkrupp Marine Systems has long traditions in designing and building naval ships, while Ulstein has long experience in commercial vessels with unique designs and solutions for demanding marine operations,” Ulstein Verft Managing Director Lars Lühr Olsen said.
“Both companies have an industrial legacy from the shipbuilding industry in different markets related to ship design and ship construction, and are renowned for proven, advanced and outfitting-intensive vessels.”
F127 Frigate for Germany
Meanwhile, thyssenkrupp’s F127 frigate has been approved for procurement by the German Navy.
Built on the MEKO A-400 Air & Missile Defense platform, the F127 could integrate the AEGIS combat system.
The F127 will begin replacing a trio of F124 Sachsen-class vessels in the early 2030s.
