OSLO, Norway, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- The Norwegian navy has taken possession of a new frigate built by Navantia S.A., the fifth and final frigate ordered from the Spanish firm.
The HMNS Thor Heyerdahl is about 440 feet long and displaces 5,300 tons. It features anti-surface naval strike missiles, Sea Sparrow missile air-defense missiles, as well as an anti-surface and anti-aircraft gun and torpedo system.
The Heyerdahl and its sister ships, which are replacing Oslo-class frigates, were delivered within the Norwegian government's cost limit of $3.3 billion.
The frigate project has contributed positively to the development of bilateral cooperation between Norway and Spain," said Norwegian Defense Minister Grete Faremo.
"It also contributed to the industrial cooperation which now also includes high technology. For the Norwegian industry and Norwegian jobs, this has been important, not only for the shipbuilding industry but for more than 250 Norwegian companies."
As part of the building project, an industrial cooperation agreement was signed by Norway and Navantia under which Navantia procured goods and services from Norway.
The Spanish military also bought Norwegian defense equipment as part of the agreement.
More than 250 Norwegian companies have received orders as a result of the offset agreement.
