Navantia and Kongsberg Naval Services (KNS) have formalised a framework agreement, establishing long-term cooperation focused on the maintenance, support, modification and modernisation of the Royal Norwegian Navy’s F-310 Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates.
The agreement was signed on 13 May 2026 in Bergen, Norway, with representatives of the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) attending as the end customer.
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KNS, a subsidiary of the Kongsberg Group, will act as the main contractor under this framework.
Navantia, serving as the designer, integrator and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the frigate class, will deliver design and engineering services.
The company’s responsibilities will cover ongoing support, upgrading work and technical improvements to enable the vessels to meet current and future requirements of the Royal Norwegian Navy.
This newly agreed framework forms part of a longstanding collaboration, as it represents the third contract awarded to Navantia in Norway for work associated with the Nansen class fleet.
Prior agreements include the Follow On Technical Support (FOTS) contract initiated thirteen years ago and the Important Modifications (I Mods) contract signed in 2023.
The new agreement further enhances industrial collaboration between Spain and Norway within naval defence and reinforces Navantia’s position as a strategic partner in one of its major international programmes.
Navantia said: “This contractual continuity reflects ongoing cooperation and demonstrates the Norwegian Ministry of Defence’s sustained confidence in Navantia as a reference partner for the sustainment, modernisation, and evolution of the F-310 frigates.”
The Fridtjof Nansen-class comprises five frigates namely KNM Fridtjof Nansen (F-310), KNM Roald Amundsen (F-311), KNM Otto Sverdrup (F-312), KNM Helge Ingstad (F-313), and KNM Thor Heyerdahl (F-314).
Each vessel is 134 metres (m) long with a displacement of 4,600 tonnes, and is equipped to perform anti-surface, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft operations. They are deigned to replace the Oslo-class vessels in Norway’s navy.
