Norway’s New Nansen Class Frigates: Capabilities and Controversies

F312 KNM Otto Svedrup(click to view full) Guest Article by Endre Lunde On June 1st, The Norwegian navy sailed its newest acquisition, the KNM Fridtjof Nansen, into the heart of Oslo. The stealthy 5,100 tonne Spanish-built frigate marks the beginning of its class, named after famous Norwegian explorers of the previous century. It also signals the start of a renewal of the Norwegian Navy, as 4 more ships of this class will be delivered through 2009 in a program valued at more than $2.4 billion. In total, Fridtjof Nansen will be followed by at least 10 more vessels of different designs within the next 5 years. This article reviews the vessel and the controversy surrounding it – some see it as a revolution, others see it as a relic of the past. Nansen Class: Pocket AEGIS KNM Fridtjof Nansen(click to view full) The main mission of the frigate is anti-submarine warfare and the ship is equipped to detect, identify, track, engage and attack hostile submarines. The ship is also equipped for anti-air warfare and anti-surface warfare roles and can carry out non-combatant tasks in peacetime. The ship houses a medical facility, and will carry an NH-90 helicopter. The Fridtjof Nansen […]