Kongsberg and Salt win Norwegian Navy standard vessel design contract

The Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) has awarded Salt Ship Design and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) a contract to develop the concept and technical design for a new class of standardised vessels for the Norwegian Armed Forces.

The collaboration will provide the technical foundation for a shipbuilding competition scheduled to begin this year.

The NDMA selected Salt and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace after reviewing final proposals from three suppliers.

In total, 11 design houses took part in the qualification phase, with six advancing to the next stage.

The agency assessed competence, capacity to deliver, technical readiness, and cost, ultimately determining the Salt and Kongsberg team as the strongest candidate.

According to the NDMA, the resulting vessel designs must remain “neutral and accessible” for all potential shipbuilders in subsequent phases of procurement.

Kongsberg president Eirik Lie said: “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.”

The NDMA began seeking proposals in January for up to 28 new standardised ships for the Norwegian Navy in January.

The plan aims to replace more than 10 current vessel classes with a uniform fleet intended to streamline operations, improve flexibility, and lengthen operational lifespans.

According to a press statement from NDMA on 30 March 2026, requirements specification and reference design are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

The shipbuilding competition will take place from autumn 2026 to spring 2027. The construction contract is planned to commence in 2027, with delivery of the first vessel anticipated in 2030.

Defence Materiel director Gro Jære said: “The supplier will, in close collaboration with Defence Materiel and the Norwegian Armed Forces, develop a complete and neutral technical basis that will be the foundation for the upcoming shipbuilding competition. The timeline is tight, and that is precisely why the expertise and capacity of Salt & KDA are crucial.”

The acquisition of standardised vessels initiatives form a key element of the Armed Forces’ Long-Term Plan and the 2024 Fleet Plan.

The objective is to develop a new class of vessels in two sizes, ocean going and coastal platforms, which will meet a broad range of operational needs for both the Navy and the Coast Guard.

Earlier this month, Kongsberg, Salt, and Ottawa-based Adaptive Marine Solutions secured a contract to design new vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard as part of Canada’s national shipbuilding programme.