NATO's northern flank is getting new warships built to hunt Russian submarines

"NATO ally Norway is buying advanced warships from the UK in its biggest defense deal ever. NATO officials say the move will sharply strengthen its ability to hunt enemy submarines in the North Atlantic. The £10 billion ($13.5 billion) agreement for Type 26 frigates will tie Norway's navy more closely to Britain's, creating a combined fleet of 13 vessels designed for anti-submarine warfare."

"London says the ships will bolster NATO's presence in northern Europe as tensions with Russia rise. A NATO official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the allied military capabilities, said the deal provides Norway with "advanced capabilities" in anti-submarine warfare and "other critical missions in the maritime domain." The official said that this "contributes to the broader collective defense" of the alliance."

"Norway shares a relatively small border with Russia compared to its Nordic neighbor and newly minted NATO ally, Finland. However, the country has a long stretch of coastline well above the Arctic Circle with direct access to the strategic Norwegian and Barents seas. Russian submarines traveling from the Murmansk region, where the Kremlin's Northern Fleet is based, to the North Atlantic and beyond have to sail through waters north of Norway."

Norway agreed to a £10 billion ($13.5 billion) purchase of Type 26 frigates from the United Kingdom, marking its largest defense deal. The new ships specialize in anti-submarine warfare and will form a combined Norway-UK fleet of 13 vessels focused on hunting enemy submarines. NATO officials say the frigates will bolster allied presence in northern Europe and enhance monitoring of Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic. Norway's long Arctic coastline and access to the Norwegian and Barents seas position the country as strategically important for High North ASW operations and protection of undersea infrastructure.

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