Continuing Controversies: Disputes with Navantia Over Norway’s Fridtjof Nansen Frigates

KNM Fridtjof Nansen(click to view full) “Norway’s New Nansen Class Frigates: Capabilities and Controversies” by DID reader Endre Lunde covered Norway’s new Fridtjof Nansen Class multi-mission AEGIS frigates, which are being built by Navantia of Spain. Now DID’s Spanish correspondent Pedro Lucio informs us that according to Spanish newspapers, the controversies are intensifying. Indeed, Norway’s NDLO (Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation) is now making noises about rescinding the contract. DID’s respective correspondents give us the view from both sides, as described in the Spanish press and in Norway: The Spanish View Contributor: Pedro Lucio Rust problems: This has apparently become an issue within a month of delivering F-310, the KNM Fridtjof Nansen. Navantia reportedly claims that the problem is the kind of paint Norway chose, which they say is inferior to the type used on Spain’s F100 Alvaro de Bazan Class AEGIS frigates. Spain’s frigates have not had these kinds of problems with rust. Increasing Costs: Navantia and Norway are locked in a dispute over a EUR 19 million set of charges due to the large number of changes requested by Norway. Some reports claim that many of the changes were requested after Norwegian officers visited one of Spain’s Alvaro de […]