Galdhøpiggen Class

The Galdhøpiggen Class destroyer was the first surface combatant ships of the Royal Union Navy with blue water capabilities. The ships are named after highest norwegian peaks, with the lead ship of the class bearing the name of Galdhøpiggen, the highest one. The ships were Spruance Class Destroyers bough in 2001 and 2003 from USA. Eight ships were ordered in 2001 and eight more in 2003.

Background
Currently all 16 destroyers are in service.

Design
In the original design of the Norwegian government, the operational needs of the new Royal Union Navy had not been taken into account. The original platform was a good starting point, but reforms were needed in her original design so that the ship could become the backbone of the RUN Fleet. That's why AFLO immediately began working on a series of proposals that ended up with changes in the following parts:
 * A brand new power system with NAtech Hybrid Multi-Gas Power Plant
 * A new total power of 124 MW
 * A brand new fully electrical propulsion system with 2 ABB AZIPODs azimut thrusters mounted externally to the main hull
 * Changes in all electronic systems to fully compatibility with new national standards
 * A new weapon system in accordance with new operational requirements

Power generation & propulsion Mk2
The power plant of the ship has been redesigned to suit the needs and requirements of the RUN and the new systems and elements of the ship. AFLO chose to equip the ship with a clean fuel cell propulsion system developed by the company NAtech.

The power plant of the ship was designed taking into account the current needs of energy for propulsion and other systems on board, so it was possible to assume an increase in power required if new equipment or systems were installed in the future.

For the propulsion of the ship NAtech has developed a solution combining 2 NAtech Statpower System power plants of 40 MW each with 4 NAsoft ST energy servers with 7MW power each. Aditional 4 NAsoft ST energy servers provide the electricity needed for the ship military and support systems.

The propulsion system is fully electrical with two shafts. The electricity for the motors is supplied by the power system.

Electronic systems Mk2
One of the main design premises was the need to mount Baltic Union made electronic systems in order to full integration with other Armed Forces systems and satellite net.

Sensors
 * 1 x Saab 9LV CMS Combat Management System
 * 1 x Saab 9LV FCS Fire Control System
 * 1 x Saab EOS 500 Electro Optical Fire Control
 * 1 x TERMA SCANTER 4100 Surveillance Radar

Electronic warfare
 * 1 x Kongsberg C-Scope Sonar System


 * 1 x Saab SME-200 Tactical EMS / ELINT
 * 1 x Saab NLWS Naval Laser Warning System

Decoys


 * 1 x TERMA DL-12T decoy launcher
 * 1 x TERMA Loki torpedo countermeasure

Armament Mk2
The weapons system of the class are:


 * 2 × 16-cell Mk41 Vertical Launching System w/ 72 &times; RIM-162 ESSM
 * 16 &times; Naval Strike Missile SSMs
 * 4 &times; torpedo tubes for Torpedo 2000
 * Depth charges
 * 2 &times; 57 mm AB BOFORS Mk.3
 * 4 &times; 12,7 mm M2 Browning M2HB HMG Sea Protector
 * 2 &times; spare CIWS gun w/ calibre 40 mm

Air wing
The ships have a fligh deck for:


 * 1 x AS532 Cougar ASUW / ASW

List of ships
The ships are named after highest peaks in Norway.