Key Takeaways:
- The Anglo-Norwegian Lunna House Agreement will deepen UK-Norway naval cooperation, with a focus on joint operations in the North Atlantic.
- The agreement includes plans for an interchangeable Type 26 frigate force, with 8 British and at least 5 Norwegian vessels.
- The UK will join Norway’s programme to develop support vessels for uncrewed systems, with the potential for constructing these vessels in Norway.
- The agreement also includes cooperation on Royal Marines Arctic training, Sting Ray torpedo development, joint wargaming, and the adoption of the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile.
- The partnership aims to strengthen NATO’s northern flank and provide a credible maritime presence in the face of growing Russian activity.
Introduction to the Agreement
The Anglo-Norwegian Lunna House Agreement is set to be signed today, marking a significant deepening of UK-Norway naval cooperation. This agreement represents the most substantial development in naval cooperation between the two nations since the early Cold War. At its core, the agreement formalizes plans for the Royal Navy (RN) and the Royal Norwegian Navy (RNN) to operate an interchangeable Type 26 frigate force. This force will comprise 8 British and at least 5 Norwegian vessels, with the primary goal of countering Russian submarine activity in the Arctic, Greenland-Iceland-UK gap, and North Atlantic.
Joint Type 26 Force
The joint Type 26 force will be a significant strategic advantage for both navies, allowing for more efficient and effective operations in the North Atlantic. The ASW specialist vessels will be the primary surface combatants operating against Russian submarines, and crews from both navies will share maintenance facilities, technologies, and equipment. This cooperation will enable deployments to be generated more rapidly and will promote a common approach to operations in the High North. The agreement also mirrors the established P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft cooperation, which has already demonstrated the benefits of joint operations between the two nations.
Mothership Cooperation
A significant element of the announcement is the UK’s decision to join Norway’s programme to develop support vessels that will act as motherships for uncrewed systems. These vessels will host, deploy, and recover uncrewed mine hunting craft, remotely operated vehicles, and autonomous underwater systems. The RN has a stated requirement for at least 3 new-build motherships or Offshore Support Vessels (OSV) to support the transition to uncrewed minehunting. The Norwegian company, Kongsberg, has been awarded a contract to assess whether their Vanguard design could be a suitable basis for the OSV requirement. Constructing the OSVs in Norway would help balance out the approximately £10Bn the Norwegians are spending on Type 26.
Vanguard Design
The Vanguard design is a scalable series of ship designs developed to enable the deployment of off-board systems even in rough sea conditions. The ‘Blue water’ Vanguard variant has a central hangar that incorporates a lift and handling system, enabling quick reconfiguration for new missions and the servicing of embarked systems. Modular payloads, stored in TEU containers, allow the vessel to switch roles efficiently. The platform is intended as a versatile asset, capable of operating helicopters, USVs, and UAVs. While the Vanguard design may be a high-end solution, it is possible that the RN may prefer larger, simpler vessels, more like RFA Proteus or HMS Stirling Castle, adapted from commercial OSVs.
Further Cooperation Measures
The agreement includes several other cooperation measures, including year-round Royal Marines Arctic training in Norway, deeper collaboration on Sting Ray torpedo development, joint wargaming, and the RN’s ongoing adoption of the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile. Both governments recognize that deterrence in the North Atlantic rests on credible maritime presence and long-term industrial partnerships. The Lunna House Agreement builds on over seven decades of close naval cooperation and represents tangible programmes, far more than just a mutual statement of intent. It creates a combined ASW force, commits both countries to the next generation of autonomous undersea systems, and strengthens NATO’s northern flank at a time when Russian activity continues to grow.
Conclusion
The Anglo-Norwegian Lunna House Agreement marks a significant milestone in the deepening of UK-Norway naval cooperation. The agreement’s focus on joint operations, interchangeable forces, and cooperation on uncrewed systems demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening NATO’s northern flank and providing a credible maritime presence in the face of growing Russian activity. As the agreement is signed, it is clear that the partnership between the UK and Norway will play a critical role in shaping the future of naval operations in the North Atlantic.
