UK, Norway Announce Defense Deal to Combat Russian Submarine Activity
The initiative coincides with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store's official visit to the United Kingdom.
The Lunna House Agreement—characterized as unprecedented in scope—will merge the Royal Navy and Royal Norwegian Navy into an integrated force utilizing an interchangeable squadron of British-manufactured Type 26 anti-submarine frigates, according to a British government statement.
The combined flotilla will comprise eight UK warships and a minimum of five Norwegian vessels, enhanced by autonomous technology systems, officials confirmed.
Britain's government reports a 30% surge in Russian naval operations menacing UK territorial waters during the previous two years, prompting the strategic partnership.
"At this time of profound global instability, as more Russian ships are being detected in our waters, we must work with international partners to protect our national security. This historic agreement with Norway strengthens our ability to protect our borders and the critical infrastructure our nations depend on. Through joint navy cooperation in the North Atlantic, we're boosting security, supporting thousands of UK jobs, and showcasing Britain's world-class shipbuilding on the global stage," the statement said.
UK Defense Secretary John Healey and Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik will formalize the accord at 10 Downing Street before proceeding to Portsmouth, where they'll engage with the UK-Norway Maritime Capability Coalition—an initiative supporting Ukraine's naval training and equipment requirements.
The unified frigate force will patrol the strategically critical Greenland-Iceland-UK gap, protecting undersea cables and pipelines transporting communications data, electrical power, and natural gas supplies.
Both naval services will coordinate maintenance operations, technological resources, and equipment to enable swift deployment capabilities.
Additional partnership elements include UK involvement in Norway's mothership development program for unmanned mine-hunting and undersea warfare platforms, continuous Royal Marines training operations in Norway throughout the year, Royal Navy adoption of Norwegian naval strike missile systems, enhanced Sting Ray torpedo collaboration, combined tactical exercises, and joint leadership of NATO's autonomous systems deployment in Arctic regions.
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