The Royal Navy is to acquire three new mine-hunting support vessels through a defence agreement with Norway, the Ministry of Defence announced on 12 November 2026.
The ships will act as motherships for uncrewed mine-hunting systems, allowing the detection and disposal of underwater explosives while reducing the risks faced by sailors.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Norwegian Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik confirmed the commitment at the Atlantic Future Forum in Oslo.
New vessels will deploy autonomous mine-hunting technology
The three Offshore Support Vessels will serve as motherships for uncrewed systems designed to detect and dispose of sea mines, helping keep Royal Navy personnel farther from danger. The Ministry of Defence says they will contribute to its Hybrid Navy approach and support operations on NATO’s northern flank.
Britain joins Norwegian naval programme
The agreement brings Britain into Norway’s P1118 Standardised Vessel Programme. The first ship is due in 2031, and the UK has an option to acquire another three beyond its initial order. Delivery will be managed through the government-to-government Maritime Capability Partnership Framework.
Linked to £10 billion frigate export agreement
The announcement forms part of the wider UK–Norway defence partnership following Norway’s £10 billion Type 26 frigate order in December 2025. The Ministry of Defence says the wider frigate deal supports around 4,000 UK supply-chain jobs, including more than 2,000 at BAE Systems’ Glasgow shipyards. Those figures do not refer solely to the mine-hunting vessel acquisition.
Threats to international shipping
The Ministry of Defence cited the threat of sea mines to freedom of navigation and disruption to energy trade in the Strait of Hormuz. The Government says uncrewed mine-countermeasure technology will improve the Royal Navy’s ability to respond to these risks.
Funding and delivery questions
The Government says an additional £90 million investment was announced in the Defence Investment Plan for the acquisition. This is not presented as the complete lifetime cost of the ships. The first is due in 2031, but the announcement does not set out firm delivery dates for the remaining two.