They are among the fastest armed ships in the world.
And for the next two days, visitors and locals in Aberdeen will have the chance to see two of the stealth vessels docked at the city’s harbour.
The Norwegian navy crafts are due to leave on Monday, it emerged last night.
The HNoMS Skjold and the HNoMS Skudd arrived in the north-east port at abut 8pm on Thursday evening.
The two ships, one of which is the fastest armed craft in the world and can travel at speeds of up to 60 knots, have stopped off in the Granite City on their way to Norway.
The camouflaged HNoMS Skjold is equipped with short range surface-to air missile systems and is armed with a 3kg warhead that can reach targets of up to two and a half miles away.
The two ships have been previously involved in the International Joint Warrior exercise, which a training programme which involves a number of warships, aircraft, marines and troops from military and navy organisations around the world.
The current exercise, which is held across the UK, involves 13,000 soldiers, 70 aircraft and 55 vessels from 13 different countries and is designed to improve teamwork and joint cooperation between the participating country’s military and naval forces.
A Royal Navy spokesman said: “We assume the ships are in Aberdeen on their way home from the Joint Warrior exercise.”
The twice-yearly event is the largest military exercise in Europe.
The arrival of the two ships is completely unrelated to an incident at Aberdeen Harbour yesterday, during which nine people were detained after the Royal Navy and Border Force intercepted and boarded the ship off the coast of Aberdeen.
A spokesman for Aberdeen Harbour said: “The two ships are in Aberdeen as part of routine operations.
“The ships will leave on Monday.”
To find out more about the two Norwegian warships, pick up a copy of the Press and Journal on Monday, where we have a special feature and interview with the ship’s lieutenant.