Russian naval drills spark Norwegian retaliation, highlight regional tensions
Russian destroyer Admiral Levchenko forced a Norwegian fishing cutter, operating in the Norwegian economic zone, to leave the area where the Russians had planned exercises. During the incident, shots were reportedly fired. However, Norway is not defenseless and has the forces to protect its maritime interests. What equipment does the Norwegian Navy possess?
10:28 AM EDT, September 25, 2024
Both Norwegian and Russian media describe the incident, which supposedly occurred on September 12. According to the Norwegians, the Russians forced the Norwegian cutter, fishing in the Norwegian economic zone, to move, citing exercises conducted as part of the Okean-2024 maneuvers.
According to differing accounts, the Russian destroyer Project 1155 Admiral Levchenko (the same one that caught fire in June) first called the fishermen by radio to change their location, then sounded a siren and headed toward the Norwegian cutter. The cutter's captain claims that the Russians fired into the water near his vessel.
Although the Russians had the right to conduct maneuvers in that region, the Norwegians pointed out the high frequency of various exercises that make fishing impossible in parts of the Norwegian exclusive economic zone, extending beyond territorial waters to 200 nautical miles (about 230 miles) from the coast.
The destroyer Admiral Levchenko is an old Project 1155 unit, launched in the mid-1980s. The ship is 535 feet long and displaces 8,300 tons. The Project 1155 units were designed for anti-submarine warfare, and their armament is focused on this task.
In addition to strong artillery armament and the Kinzhal anti-aircraft system, the destroyers have on board two RBU-6000 rocket depth charge launchers and eight Rastrub-B rocket torpedo launchers. Their anti-submarine capabilities are further enhanced by two Ka-27 shipboard helicopters.
The Okean-2024 naval maneuvers were intended to showcase Russian strength at sea. However, Norway—despite having a smaller fleet—is not defenseless. Not only can it count on NATO support, but it also has forces capable of controlling its maritime borders.
Norwegian frigates
Norway's navy is based on three groups of ships with different purposes. The first group is the frigate group, currently consisting of four Fridtjof Nansen-class units: Fridtjof Nansen, Roald Amundsen, Otto Sverdrup, and Thor Heyerdahl. All ships were launched in the first decade of the 21st century, and their design forms the basis for the Type 31 frigates, on which three Polish Miecznik-class units are based.
The Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates have a displacement of just over 5,700 tons and are 440 feet long. In addition to artillery armament, their main weaponry consists of NSM anti-ship missiles, considered the best in their class globally (after design changes this year, such missiles are also set to be deployed on Polish Mieczniks).
Air defense is provided by the universal Mk 41 VLS launcher with RIM-162 ESSM missiles (the Mieczniks will be armed with Sea Ceptor CAMM missiles).
Until 2019, the Norwegians had five frigates, but one of them—Helge Ingstad—sank after colliding with a civilian tanker, despite multiple warnings from the latter about the collision course of both vessels. The actions of the frigate's crew were described in an investigation as "contrary to maritime art principles".
Norwegian submarines
The second pillar of the Norwegian Navy consists of conventionally powered submarines. Six Ula-class units are involved: Ula, Utsira, Utstein, Utvær, Uthaug, and Uredd.
The submarines were designed and built at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s in Germany, and work is currently underway on their successors – the 212CD-class submarines for the navies of Germany (2 units) and Norway (four units).
The Ula-class units are small submarines, 194 feet long and displacing just over 1,100 tons, armed with eight 533 mm torpedo tubes. While work is underway on the successors to the old submarines, Norway recently decided to modernize the Ula-class units.
This will be carried out by the Kongsberg corporation, and the changes will involve implementing a modern combat management system and sensors, including optronic masts.
Norwegian coastal defense ships
The third pillar of the Norwegian Navy is a group of small ships designed for direct coastal defense. It consists of six corvettes (these units are also classified as missile boats) of the Skjold class: Skjold, Storm, Skudd, Steil, Glimt, and Gnist.
The Skjold-class corvettes are built with stealth technology and are very fast units, combining the features of a catamaran and a hovercraft. In this case, the air cushion is created between two hulls. Thanks to this, on calm seas, the Norwegian corvettes can reach speeds of up to 60 knots (about 70 mph), making them some of the fastest warships in the world.
Despite their small size—156 feet long, 274 tons displacement—these units are armed with a 76 mm gun and eight NSM anti-ship missiles. Their air defense is provided by Mistral missile launchers.
The corvettes are complemented by the Kystjegerkommandoen, naval commandos equipped with fast, 52-foot CB90 motorboats and handheld Hellfire missile launchers.
Aircraft, helicopters, and fleet development plans
Complementing these forces are mine countermeasure units, as well as a very developed coastal defense service. Some of its units are armed and can transport helicopters, and aerial support for maritime border protection is provided by, among others, Lockheed P-3 Orion patrol aircraft.
Until recently, Norway also operated 14 NH90 helicopters, but in 2022, amid scandal, they were returned to the manufacturer, citing continuous malfunctions and low readiness of these machines. They were replaced with a naval variant of Black Hawks.
Furthermore, the Norwegian Navy is set for significant reinforcement in the coming years. In April 2024, along with announcements of an increased defense budget, Norwegian politicians also presented a plan to expand the armed forces. This includes strengthening the navy with more frigates and submarines.
