CLYDE LANDS £10BILLION NORWAY NAVY DEAL

WARSHIPS for the Norwegian navy will be built in Scotland following a £10billion deal.

- Richard Elias

Type 26 frigates will be constructed at the BAE Systems yard in Glasgow to allow a fleet of at least 13 antisubmarine ships from the UK and Norway - at least five of which will be Norwegian to operate jointly in northern Europe as they look to deal with increased Russian activity.

The yard in the city's Govan district is currently building eight frigates for the Royal Navy.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer learned of the decision during a call with his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store on Saturday night and the Ministry Defence announced the deal yesterday.

A Downing Street spokesman said the decision marks an "important and historic moment for European security".

The contract is expected to support 2,000 jobs at BAE in the coming years and a further 2,000 in the supply chain into the latter part of the next decade, with 103 Scottish businesses hoped to benefit.

Last night, the Prime Minister welcomed the announcement.