Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace
Skjold-class
A Norwegian surface-effect-ship corvette combining a catamaran hull with an air cushion to reach very high speeds for hit-and-run missile strikes in Norway's fjords and coastal waters. Its low radar cross-section composite hull and speed make it one of the fastest missile-armed warships in NATO service.
In service since 1999 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
274
t
60
kn
20
crew
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
National export licensing
Subject to Norway export-control approval; verify eligibility with the manufacturer.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 1999. Status: active · ~6 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the Skjold-class can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 1x 76 mm Oto Melara naval gun |
|---|
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 47.5 m |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 6 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
Specifications compiled from public Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the main armament of the Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Skjold-class? +
The Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Skjold-class's primary weapon is the 1x 76 mm Oto Melara naval gun.
How many countries operate the Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Skjold-class? +
The Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Skjold-class is operated by 1 countries.
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