Helge Ingstad repairs to cost more than new warship acquisition, Norwegian report claims

A report recently published by the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) has stated that restoring the damaged Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad to full operational readiness would be more expensive than buying a new warship.

Specifically, the agency has estimated that the repair of the frigate would cost NOK 12 to 14 billion (US$1.37 to 1.59 billion) and take more than five years whereas the cost of purchasing a newbuild similar vessel is estimated at NOK 11 to 13 billion (US$1.25 to 1.48 billion).

The NDMA said that while it is “technically possible” to bring Helge Ingstad back up to a state of operational readiness, the corresponding cost and the time required would render the effort impractical.

The report added that some parts of the frigate may still be used as spares for other Norwegian warships.

Helge Ingstad sank in the waters off Oygarden on November 8 last year after it collided with a commercial oil tanker.

The damaged frigate was lifted out of the water last February 26 and has been at the naval base in Haakonsvern since March 3.