Norwegian/British Future Mothership Programme - Discussion and News

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Reuben James

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ukdefencejournal.org.uk

UK joins Norway’s mine warfare ‘mothership’ project

The UK will join Norway’s programme to develop offshore support vessels designed to deploy uncrewed minehunting and undersea-warfare systems.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk ukdefencejournal.org.uk

www.gov.uk

UK and Norway to operate together to counter Russian undersea threat through major new defence agreement

Combined fleet of at least 13 warships, bolstered by autonomous systems, will hunt Russian submarines and protect critical infrastructure in the North Atlantic as part of new agreement.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk

This is a thread about the planned motherships and offshore support vessels intended to be procured jointly between both the UK and Norway. The Royal Navy has expressed in interest in the past for the three mine countermeasures motherships to operate alongside HMS Stirling Castle, but I less clear on what the Norwegians want from the programme, so if anyone could help me out, that'd be fantastic.

The Kongsberg Vanguard appears to be one proposal that's being pushed for the procurement - this is essentially two ships, a largish, bluewater, offshore patrol vessel, or a smaller inshore patrol vessel, both equipped for operating UAVs, USVs and UUVs. Kongsberg advertise a modular shipping container-based solution, with shown modules including ASW, ASuW and AAW. Very interesting design.

www.kongsberg.com

The Vanguard Solution

The Vanguard solution is developed based on the standardisation of fleet and systems. It is centred on handling day-to-day tasks as part of maintaining good order at sea. With increasing geopolitical volatility, the concept also has the flexibility to undertake naval warfare tasks, provided the...
www.kongsberg.com www.kongsberg.com

0445_single.jpg

That's the offshore support vessel version.


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That's the inshore support vessel version.
 
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Ulstein have shown off their designs for the mothership/OSV programme.

www.navalnews.com

Ulstein unveils designs for new standardised vessels for Royal Norwegian Navy - Naval News

While the new frigates and ongoing production of Type 212CD submarines has been the main headlines of the Royal Norwegian Navy’s ongoing modernisation efforts, the acquisition of up to 28 new vessels of two ‘Standard’-classes is one of the more far-reaching and innovative parts of the programme.
www.navalnews.com www.navalnews.com

1769525379313.png 1769525398500.png
 
For those interested in armament, the larger variant (the one the RN are reportedly interested in acquiring three of) carries eight containerised Naval Strike Missiles and a 57mm naval gun. It look as though there might be room for a larger air search radar on the mast as well.

The shape of the bow is common to Ulstein-designed ships, and supports the function of the vessel in rough conditions in the Norwegian and North Seas, and the North Atlantic.
 
Kongsberg also released a new render, showing an evolution of their Vanguard design.

www.navalnews.com

Kongsberg Maritime Participates in Competition For New Standardised Vessels for Royal Norwegian Navy - Naval News

Kongsberg Maritime is participating in the prequalification phase of the competition for the Royal Norwegian Navy’s new standardised vessels (P1118).
www.navalnews.com www.navalnews.com

1769525683300.png

Again, it looks like the larger vessel (the OSV variant) carries eight containerised NSM and a 57mm, whilst the smaller variant has just four NSM and a 40/57mm.
 
Norway plans to purchase up to 28 of these motherships (the selection for the design has not yet concluded), split between 18 coastal vessels and 10 bluewater-capable vessels. They're intended to replace patrol craft, minehunters, light corvettes, and auxiliaries across 12 classes in the RNoN. So far, the RN has committed to three of the larger variants.

If this goes through, and I suspect it will, the RN has the opportunity to get their hands on three large missile-armed OSVs that can supplement the escort and patrol roles currently being performed by frigates, OPVs and minesweepers.

My most pressing question now centres of whether these will be RN-operated or RFA-operated, and as such, will they be built in the UK, or in Norway, and whether, should they be RFA-operated, they'll be fitted with offensive weaponry.
 
Reuben James said:
My most pressing question now centres of whether these will be RN-operated or RFA-operated, and as such, will they be built in the UK, or in Norway, and whether, should they be RFA-operated, they'll be fitted with offensive weaponry.
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I'd expect RN and FFBNW.
 
Martes said:
No air defense at all, not even a phalanx?
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Perhaps a 40mm, but that'd require an air search radar. Phalanx is a bit of a toss up - there should be a few lying around now the Albions are being sold, but those could be being transferred to the frigates and FSSS.
 
Martes said:
No air defense at all, not even a phalanx?
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Air defence on the Sandown class Minehunters, which they'd be functionally replacing, is one 30mm DS30B, and three .50s. The Rivers have much the same if they're also taking the home waters OPV role.
 
Be those standard shipping container size?
If so there's a possibility of containerised CAMM if need be.
 
It all depends.
The better the ships radar, tje better the performance of yhe miss.
But obviously an attendant frigate should be good to provide high quality target data.

Containers opens up the whole PODS concept being used on such vessels. Giving an ability to be equipped for particular roles.

Maybe drones to deliver torpedoes.
Mine clearing equipment.
Medical office.
Maybe a bathysphere for divers.
 
www.navylookout.com

Royal Navy in talks to sell Batch I offshore patrol vessels to Uruguay - Navy Lookout

Local media reports the UK has offered to sell the three River-class Batch I OPVs, HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn to the Uruguayan Navy when they go out of service in 2028. In October 2025, the Uruguayan government announced that it would terminate a contract with Spanish shipyard Cardama...
www.navylookout.com www.navylookout.com

Knowing this, any possibility of extending the B1s past 2028 seems unlikely. The established plan is to withdraw at least three of the B2s (presumably one from Singapore, the one from the Caribbean, and the one in the Med - unless both Singapore-OPVs are pulled back), that will then theoretically be replaced by Type 31 frigates post-2030.

This is a neat rearrangement, but leaves the RN down three of its most useful hulls, and three of its most consistent overseas assets.

Assuming that the capability will not simply be left unfilled (a brave assumption), this seems like the perfect opportunity for this Norwegian programme to step in.

3 for minehunting, and three for homewaters OPV duties?
 
Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace and Salt Design got the contract to develop the Norwegian standardised vessels:

KONGSBERG and Salt Ship Design to design Norway’s standardised vessels
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (‘KONGSBERG’) and Salt Ship Design (‘SALT’) have jointly won the contract to design the new standardised vessels for the Norwegian Navy.

30 Mar 2026

The Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) announced today that SALT and KONGSBERG have been awarded a contract to develop a design concept for standardised vessels. The companies have worked closely for years to secure a Norwegian programme, while also pursuing a international opportunities.

“This marks an important step forward for KONGSBERG and the Norwegian defence and maritime industry, and we look forward to contributing our expertise and technology to develop the standardised vessels of the future in Norway and internationally,” said Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. “A standardised fleet based on KONGSBERG and SALT’s expertise, in support of the Armed Forces and NDMA, will simplify maintenance, reduce costs and ensure more efficient operations for the Navy,” said Lie.

In January, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency initiated a prequalification process for the design of up to 28 new standardised vessels for the Norwegian Navy. The current fleet of more than 10 vessel classes we be reduced to a standardised fleet to streamline operations, increase operational flexibility and extend the service life of the vessels. After two months, KONGSBERG and SALT have been selected as the winning team.

“Through our new office in Bergen, we have strengthened our team and in collaboration with KONGSBERG we are establishing ourselves as a solid and trustworthy partner for the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency locally and in the international naval market,” said Torbjørn Bringedal, General Manager of Salt Ship Design Bergen.

The Norwegian assignment facilitates the establishment of an international class of standard vessels, based on KONGSBERG and SALT design expertise.

In March, KONGSBERG, SALT and Ottawa-based Adaptive Marine Solutions Inc. won a contract for the design of the Canadian Coast Guard's new vessels, which will be built under Canada's national shipbuilding strategy.

In the revised long-term plan for the defence sector announced on Friday, March 27, the Government said the deliveries of standardised vessels to the United Kingdom are part of the strategic agreement in connection with the Norwegian frigate procurement. Norwegian authorities have also entered into an agreement with Lithuania on the delivery of standardised vessels.

The Norwegian government said its goal was to contribute to increased allied standardisation through closer and more binding cooperation with allies, and at the same time strengthen its national maritime and defence industry.
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Beat me to it :)

It'll be some variant or development of the Vanguard family, then. Very interesting.

The phrasing of 'deliveries to the United Kingdom' suggests these will be built in Norway.
 
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The Norwegian Defence Material Agency shows the following planned timeline:
Completion of requirements specification and reference design: by the end of 2026
Shipbuilding tender: autumn 2026 – spring 2027
Planned construction contract: from 2027
First vessel: delivery in 2030
 
Reuben James said:
Beat me to it :)

It'll be some variant or development of the Vanguard family, then. Very interesting.

The phrasing of 'deliveries to the United Kingdom' suggests these will be built in Norway.
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Another thing we can be reasonably sure will be included in the DIP? Finger in the air, they will use a seabed warfare and energy security justification. Shadow fleet meddling and Hormuz mines are a heady combination for the RN MPHC teams.
 
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TorpedoJ said:
Another thing we can be reasonably sure will be included in the DIP? Finger in the air, they will use a seabed warfare and energy security justification, Shadow fleet meddling and Hormuz mines are a heady combination for the RN MPHC teams.
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It's definitely a useful political situation for those seeking to have these ships purchased for the UK.

It'll have to be balanced with the likely backlash from procuring vessels from a foreign yard. Surely, these will be RN operated?
 
Reuben James said:
It's definitely a useful political situation for those seeking to have these ships purchased for the UK.

It'll have to be balanced with the likely backlash from procuring vessels from a foreign yard. Surely, these will be RN operated?
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The RB1s are as were the MCMVs so I'd say so. My view is that even the Bays were a step too far, much too LPD-shaped to be RFA. They should keep to resupply ships.
And Norwegian built but made clear that they are the offset for the T26s, value wise we would still be very much better off.
 

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