Naval tensions rise as Admiral Levchenko confronts Norwegian cutter

Russian destroyer Admiral Levchenko forced a Norwegian fishing cutter operating in the Norwegian economic zone to leave the area where the Russians had planned exercises. Shots were reportedly fired during the incident. However, Norway is not defenceless and has the forces to protect its maritime interests. What equipment does the Norwegian Navy possess?

Norwegian and Russian media describe the incident, which supposedly occurred on 12 September. According to the Norwegians, the Russians forced the Norwegian cutter, fishing in the Norwegian economic zone, to move, citing exercises conducted as part of Okean-2024 manoeuvres.

According to differing accounts, the Russian destroyer Project 1155 Admiral Levchenko (the same one that caught fire in June) first called the fishermen by radio to change their location, then sounded a siren and headed toward the Norwegian cutter. The cutter's captain claims that the Russians fired into the water near his vessel's side.

Although the Russians had the right to conduct manoeuvres in that region, the Norwegians pointed out the high frequency of various exercises that make fishing impossible in parts of the Norwegian exclusive economic zone, extending beyond territorial waters to 185 kilometres (approximately 200 miles) from the coast.

The destroyer Admiral Levchenko is an old Project 1155 unit, launched in the mid-1980s. The ship is 163 metres long and displaces 8,300 tonnes. The Project 1155 units were designed for anti-submarine warfare, and their armament was subordinated to this task.

In addition to strong artillery armament and the Kinzhal anti-aircraft system, the destroyers have two RBU-6000 rocket depth charge launchers and eight Rastrub-B rocket torpedo launchers on board. Two Ka-27 shipboard helicopters further enhance their anti-submarine capabilities.

The Okean-2024 naval manoeuvres were intended to showcase Russian strength at sea. However, Norway—despite having a smaller fleet—is not defenceless. Not only can it count on NATO support, but it also has forces capable of controlling its maritime borders.

Its navy is based on three groups of ships with different purposes. The first group is the frigate group, currently consisting of four Fridtjof Nansen-class units: Fridtjof Nansen, Roald Amundsen, Otto Sverdrup, and Thor Heyerdahl. All ships were launched in the first decade of the 21st century, and their design bases the Type 31 frigates.

The Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates have a displacement of just over 5,700 tonnes and are 134 metres long. In addition to artillery armament, their main weaponry consists of NSM anti-ship missiles, considered the best in their class globally.

Air defence is provided by the universal Mk 41 VLS launcher with RIM-162 ESSM missiles.

Until 2019, the Norwegians had five frigates, but one of them—Helge Ingstad—sank after colliding with a civilian tanker despite multiple warnings from the latter about the collision course of both vessels. An investigation described the actions of the frigate's crew as "contrary to maritime art principles."

The second pillar of the Norwegian Navy consists of conventionally powered submarines. This is six Ula-class units: Ula, Utsira, Utstein, Utvær, Uthaug, and Uredd.

The submarines were designed and built at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s in Germany, and work is currently underway on their successors – the 212CD-class submarines for the navies of Germany (two units) and Norway (four units).

The Ula-class units are small submarines, 59 metres long and displacing just over 1,100 tonnes, armed with eight 533 mm torpedo tubes. While work is underway on the successors to the old submarines, Norway recently decided to modernise the Ula-class units.

The Kongsberg Corporation will carry this out. The changes will involve implementing a modern combat management system and sensors, including optronic masts.

The third pillar of the Norwegian Navy is a group of small ships designed for direct coastal defence. It consists of six corvettes (these units are also classified as missile boats) of the Skjold class: Skjold, Storm, Skudd, Steil, Glimt, and Gnist.

The Skjold-class corvettes are built with stealth technology, are very fast units combining the features of a catamaran and a hovercraft. In this case, the air cushion is created between two hulls. Thanks to this, on calm seas, the Norwegian corvettes can reach speeds up to 111 km/h (approximately 70 mph), making them some of the fastest warships in the world.

Despite their small size – 48 metres long, 274 tonnes displacement - these units are armed with a 76 mm gun and eight NSM anti-ship missiles. Mistral missile launchers provide their air defence.

The corvettes are complemented by the Kystjegerkommandoen, naval commandos equipped with fast, 16-metre CB90 motorboats and handheld Hellfire missile launchers.

Complementing these forces are mine countermeasure units and a very developed coastal defence service. Some of its units are armed and can transport helicopters, and aerial support for maritime border protection is provided by, among other things, Lockheed P-3 Orion patrol aircraft.

Until recently, Norway also operated 14 NH90 helicopters. However, in 2022, amid scandal, they were returned to the manufacturer, citing continuous malfunctions and low readiness. They were replaced with a naval variant of Black Hawks.

Furthermore, the Norwegian Navy is set for significant reinforcement in the coming years. In April 2024, along with announcements of an increased defence budget, Norwegian politicians also presented a plan to expand the armed forces. This includes strengthening the navy with more frigates and submarines.