Germany’s thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Ulstein Verft signed a Letter of Intent to collaborate on delivering the Royal Norwegian Navy’s next advanced frigates, marking a significant step towards enhanced industrial cooperation between Germany and Norway. The two partners collaborate on a possible contract award for the next Norwegian frigate program.
To remind, the 2024 Fleet Plan outlines that Norway will acquire five or six frigates to replace the Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates.
In the Letter of Intent, the technology from German thyssenkrupp Marine Systems will be combined with local shipbuilding expertise in the Norwegian, family-owned, Ulstein Verft.
The naval company thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, with 8.000 employees at three shipyards in Kiel, Wismar, and Itajaí (Brazil), is already involved with the Royal Norwegian Navy in the construction of 212CD submarines together with Germany.
According to Ulstein Verft, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems’ F127 frigate is based on the MEKO A-400 design, which has been established for more than 20 years and used in several different frigate classes built at yards around the world.
The company is also active as a systems supplier for submarines and naval surface vessels, maritime electronics and security technologies.
Joachim Wacker, head of product sales and product strategy at thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Lars Lühr Olsen, managing director at Ulstein Verft, highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership and the advantages for Norway’s shipbuilding sector.
“In the Letter of Intent, Ulstein Verft works in a new direction parallel to commercial shipbuilding activities. If the frigate project is awarded our cooperative constellation, we will be looking at possible investments to further develop the production at our facility,” said Olsen.
“This agreement is a milestone in our commitment to the Norwegian industry,” added Joachim Wacker.
