Norway has announced a new program to scale up its national defense industry production, including supplies for Ukraine, with an investment of 967 million Norwegian kroner ($89.9 million).
Initially, the measure will focus on supporting small- and medium-sized Norwegian companies supplying cutting-edge technology to Ukraine.
It will continue to engage local companies and institutions to work on a new rocket motor production line, the development of hexamine production for explosives, and a feasibility study for a new explosives production facility.
Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said that “the security situation has created a significant and urgent need for defense materiel in Ukraine, among our allies, and domestically.”
Norway’s Long-Term Vision for Defense
This new measure is part of the Norwegian government’s Nansen Support Program for Ukraine providing both civilian and military aid, with a total budget of 75 billion kroner ($6.8 billion) from 2023 to 2027.
In 2023, Oslo allocated 8.9 billion kroner ($810 million) to civilian and humanitarian aid, and 11 billion kroner ($1 billion) to military support.
Besides its support to Ukraine, the Scandinavian country planned a record increase for its national defense spending, presenting a 12-year defense budget of 600 billion kroner ($60 billion) to be implemented by 2036.
The plan includes maritime packages, air defense, situational awareness, and army and Home Guard support, increased recruitment into the army, as well as strengthening Norway’s cooperation with NATO.