How Norwegian defense giant Kongsberg is deepening its role in Ukraine

According to Express Defense, Norwegian defense giant Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has officially entered the Ukrainian market, joining the growing list of Western defense firms partnering with Kyiv amid the ongoing war. The company recently announced the opening of its office in the Ukrainian capital and unveiled plans to work simultaneously on two major defense initiatives.

The first project focuses on the development of a new, cost-effective surface-to-air missile that can be mass-produced and integrated into Ukraine’s air defense architecture, specifically with the NASAMS system, which Kongsberg co-develops. Earlier this year, in February, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace President Eirik Lie revealed plans to launch a joint venture in Ukraine aimed at increasing missile production for NASAMS using local technology. According to Kongsberg, the project is currently being funded by the Norwegian government.

The second area of cooperation involves the development of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and combat boats equipped with Kongsberg's advanced weapon modules. This includes Norway-backed funding for maritime drone systems. Among Kongsberg’s notable offerings is the Protector RS4 remote weapon station (RWS) — a combat module mounted on U.S. Abrams tanks and increasingly integrated into anti-drone systems such as the CORTEX Typhon. These “Shahed-killers” are being delivered to Ukraine through the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), based on orders from allied countries.

However, Kongsberg’s activities in Ukraine go well beyond NASAMS and drones. The company’s defense portfolio includes one of its most renowned products — the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), a stealth cruise missile designed for ship-based deployment, and its air-launched counterpart, the Joint Strike Missile (JSM). The JSM, originally developed to enhance the capabilities of the fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet, is also compatible with F-16s. In fact, flight testing of the JSM on an F-16 was already underway as early as 2015. The missile boasts a range of up to 350 km and carries a 180 kg warhead.

In addition to NASAMS, Kongsberg is promoting its new short-range mobile air defense system, NOMADS, which is capable of firing a range of missiles, including AIM-9 and IRIS-T.

Beyond weapons systems, Kongsberg maintains strong capabilities in communication, command-and-control technologies, and a vast array of maritime systems, including submarine components, further opening the door to deeper Ukrainian-Norwegian defense cooperation in the future.

• The development of the GhostEye radar is effectively becoming the first project funded under the joint NASAMS upgrade initiative involving Norway, Raytheon, and Kongsberg.