Article Posted on : - Jan 20, 2011

The second Nansen-class frigate Roald Amundsen (F311) of Nowegian Navy. A Navantia photo

FERROL (SPAIN): The Norwegian Navy has received its fifth and last of the F-310 Nansen class anti-submarine warfare frigates from Spanish shipbuilder Navantia.

Navantia delivered the warship, F-314 Thor Heyerdahl, to the Norwegian Navy at its Fene-Ferrol shipyard Tuesday in the presence of Norwegian Navy Chief Admiral Haakon Bruun Hansen and other officials.

Norway had decided to build the new class of frigates for its navy in 1999.

Navantia was awarded a contract in 2000 to design and develop five such warships – Fridtjof Nansen (F 310), Roald Amundsen (F 311), Otto Sverdrup (F 312), Helge Ingstad (F 313) and Thor Heyerdahl (F 314).

The Nansen class frigates with anti-submarine warfare capabilities have been designed to detect, identify, track, engage and attack hostile submarines. The ships are also equipped for anti-air warfare and anti-surface warfare roles and can carry out non-combatant tasks during peacetime.

The warships are equipped with Lockheed-made Aegis combat systems.

The new class of frigates is set to replace the Oslo-class ships which are in service with the Norwegian Navy since 1996.