Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has signed a contract with the Norwegian Defence Material Agency for upgrading the combat system on board the Norwegian Navy’s Skjold-class corvettes.
The contract has a value of about NOK 400 million ($41.8 million), and the deliveries from Kongsberg will upgrade and improve the technical availability of the Skjold class. The project is a continuation of the upgrade of the Skjold combat system, initially awarded in 2022.
“We are pleased to continue the work with the Norwegian Defence Material Agency on the Skjold class to support and strengthen the fleet’s operational ability and availability,” said Kjetil Reiten Myhra , Executive Vice President, Defence Systems, at Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.
“This contract is an important contribution to ensuring that the Skjold-class remains a relevant and combat-capable asset in the years ahead. The upgrade enhances precision, detection capability and endurance, and constitutes a key element in the overall modernisation of the vessels,” stated Head of Maritime Capabilities, Stein Håvard Bergstad , at Norwegian Defence Material Agency.
The Norwegian Navy has six Skjold-class vessels. The Norwegian authorities entrusted the Skjold program to a consortium of three contractors with Naval Group, formerly DCNS, as the combat system design authority and co-supplier.
are designed specifically for maritime safety and security missions in Norway’s littoral waters. The combat system is tailored to demanding environments and reduced crewing. The communication systems and sensor suites are fully compatible with active participation in international and NATO-led operations. In addition, the vessels’ communication capabilities are being further upgraded with a state-of-the-art satellite communication system.
With a length of around 50 metres, Skjold-class ships are heavily armed for vessels of their size. The combat system features eight anti-ship missiles and a 76-mm gun that can engage several targets at once at ranges exceeding 12 kilometres. The boats were formerly classed as fast patrol boats.
First-of-class P961-Storm was handed over to the Royal Norwegian Navy in September 2010.
In 2023, Danish manufacturer of advanced technology solutions for defense Terma was contracted to provide SCANTER 6000 radars to upgrade Norwegian Navy Skjold-class corvettes.