Norway allocates EUR 82 million to boost production of weapons for Ukraine

The Norwegian Ministry of Defense reported this.

The Ministry noted that the country's defense industry produces important materiel for Norway, Ukraine and its allies, but that production capacity is currently insufficient to meet the needs.

Therefore, on October 10, the Norwegian Minister of Defense and the Minister of Trade and Industry presented the government's roadmap to increase production capacity in critical sectors of the Norwegian defense industry.

In particular, the funding will be directed to

• small and medium-sized Norwegian companies that supply products to the Ukrainian armed forces;
• a new rocket motor production line;
• the development of hexamine production for explosives in Norway
• A feasibility study for a new explosives production facility

‘The roadmap is a comprehensive plan to help increase production capacity in the Norwegian defense industry. With this, we are taking responsibility for contributing to meeting the needs of Ukraine, our nation, and our allies,’ said Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram.

He stressed that in Norway and Europe, defense production capacity has been reduced after several decades of peace and declining demand, but Russia's war against Ukraine requires a change in this trend.

‘With this roadmap, we are taking responsibility for enhancing both Norwegian and allied capacity to support Ukraine in their resistance against aggression,’ added Bjørn Arild Gram.

• The Norwegian government proposes to increase the funding for the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine to NOK 135 billion ($12.7 billion) and extend it until 2030.