Norway in talks to buy British helicopters to combat Russian subs
Norway has discussed acquiring a fleet of British-made helicopters as the Scandinavian country seeks to bolster its defences against Russian submarines.
Oslo has held talks in recent months with the UK Ministry of Defence and manufacturer Leonardo about a potential deal to acquire several AW101 aircraft, The Telegraph understands.
The helicopters, a later version of the Merlins used by the Royal Navy, are considered to be among the best submarine-hunters in the world and are made at Leonardo's factory in Yeovil, Somerset.
Norwegian interest in them has emerged as the country's officials are weighing up whether to buy as many as six British-made Type 26 frigates from BAE Systems, which would also be used as sub-hunters.
Leonardo confirmed the talks and revealed that the AW101s were being presented alongside the Type 26s as a 'package' with BAE, in a joint 'team UK' bid.
They would be used to patrol the Norwegian and Barents seas, where Oslo is grappling with an increasingly assertive Russian navy.
Each Type 26 can accommodate one AW101 but it is understood that more than one helicopter would be needed per ship to ensure some are always available.
On Friday, Clive Higgins, the chief executive of Leonardo UK, said the bid was receiving 'cross-government support'.
He said: 'Norway and the UK have a strategic relationship and we see this proposal as a further opportunity for our two nations to be safer and more prosperous together.'
A fleet of 15 AW101 helicopters are already in service with the Royal Norwegian Air Force and have a strong record of performance, providing round-the-clock search and rescue services, he added.
Mr Higgins said: 'Should Norway choose the AW101 for this requirement as well, they would benefit from an efficient and cost effective transition into service.'
The UK and Norway recently pledged to work towards a 'deep, ambitious defence agreement between our two nations' including greater equipment compatibility and cooperation between industries.
One defence source said a 'ships plus Merlins' deal would be a major boon for UK industry.
Another added: 'There's a requirement for an anti-submarine warfare capability, so the Norwegians partnering with the UK makes absolute sense, given the threat coming around from the High North.
'The goal is to stop Russian submarines getting into the open Atlantic.'
The Telegraph previously revealed that Norway was looking at buying Type 26 frigates last April. They are made by BAE in Glasgow, where the company is in the process of building eight vessels for the Royal Navy.
Norway is in the process of deciding which frigates to buy and has said it wants to acquire at least five, with an option for six.
BAE is seen as the frontrunner and in December ministers confirmed that the company had made it into the final four bidders of the Norwegian competition.
It is not clear whether any potential Merlin purchase would be conditional on the Type 26 winning the frigate competition.
The helicopters are primarily used for submarine hunting by the Royal Navy and, in pairs, can deploy sonobuoy to detect the location of their prey underwater.
In 2021, two Merlins used the devices in a search for a Russian sub that was stalking the carrier strike group led by HMS Queen Elizabeth as it was passing through the eastern Mediterranean.
The aircraft are also equipped with general-purpose machine guns, anti-ship missiles, homing torpedoes, depth charges and rockets, according to the Navy.
Merlins can be used for other jobs as well, including search and rescue, cargo transfers, maritime patrol and airborne surveillance, by using a powerful mounted radar.
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