The Fridtjof Nansen class of frigates, for the Royal Norwegian Navy, are a derivative of the Spanish Alvaro de Bazán class of AEGIS-equipped air defense frigates. Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are conducting final systems integration. They will enter service between 2005 and 2010. Total project cost is $3 billion.

The lead ship (and thus, the entire class) is named after Fridtjof Nansen.

Specifications

• Sensors: SPY-1F air search radar , MRS2000 hull-mounted sonar, CAPTAS Mark 2 towed sonar array , 2 × Mark 82 fire-control radar, CS-3701 electronic warfare suite
• Armament: VLS ESSM, NSM SSMs, 12.75" torpedo tubes for Stingray torpedoes, 76mm OTO Melara gun, 12.7mm machine gun
• Crew: 146 (26 as spare)
• Dimensions: 132 × 16.8 × 4.9 meters
• Displacement: 5,100 tons, loaded
• Propulsion: Two diesel engines for cruising, one GE LM2500 gas turbine for high speed running, two shafts
• Speed: 26+ knots
• Aviation compliment: Helicopter deck and hangar for one NH90
• Yard: IZAR, Ferrol, Spain

List of ships

• Fridtjof Nansen (F310), launched June 3, 2004. Expected commissioning 2005.
• Roald Amundsen (F311) Expected commissioning 2006.
• Otto Sverdrup (F312) Expected commissioning 2007.
• Helge Ingstad (F313) Expected commissioning 2008.
• Thor Heyerdahl (F314) Expected commissioning 2009.

External links

• Andrew Toppan's Haze Gray and Underway page for the Norwegian Navy