The Norwegian government, in partnership with its leading defence supplier Kongsberg, has embarked on a significant initiative to develop and produce low-cost interceptors and uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) within Ukraine. This collaboration, formalised through two contracts signed with Ukrainian companies, heralds a strategic expansion of Ukraine’s defence manufacturing capabilities, supported financially by Norway, with Kongsberg establishing a permanent presence in Kyiv.
The agreements, revealed following a high-level meeting on 22 June between Norwegian Defence Minister Tore Sandvik and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alongside key Ukrainian ministers, mark a deepening of international defence industrial cooperation amid ongoing conflict. Zelenskyy highlighted this development against the backdrop of a rapidly growing domestic weapons production sector, which he praised for its critical role in Ukraine’s war effort. According to the president, over 40% of the weapons used by Ukraine’s armed forces are now produced locally, a figure that recent data corroborates, showing that as of the end of June 2025, 30% of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s weapons inventory came from domestic production.
Central to this industrial surge is Ukraine’s advanced drone manufacturing sector, which Zelenskyy described as not only newly emerged but amongst the world’s most sophisticated. This burgeoning industry reflects a broader trend: Ukraine’s defence sector has expanded its production capacity sixfold in recent years. In 2025 alone, plans indicate the manufacture of 30,000 long-range drones, 3,000 cruise missiles, and other drone-delivered munitions. Additionally, the production rate of the Bohdana self-propelled artillery system has reached ten units per month, supplemented by over 2.5 million artillery and mortar shells produced domestically.
Kongsberg’s role in this agreement is critical. The Norwegian defence firm will lead the design and production of new low-cost interceptors to be integrated with the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), an air defence platform jointly developed with Raytheon and deployed extensively in Ukraine. Eirik Lie, president of Kongsberg, stressed the urgent need for cost-effective missile solutions, especially to counteract drone swarms—a threat underscored by Russia’s massive drone strike involving over 500 strike vehicles in late June 2025, which tragically resulted in the loss of a Ukrainian F-16 pilot during defence efforts.
On the maritime front, Norway’s commitment includes a €580 million investment in 2025 toward a maritime coalition, co-led with the United Kingdom, that focuses on advancing unmanned maritime defence capabilities. Part of this funding supports the development and Ukrainian-based production of USVs armed with Kongsberg weapon stations. These “drone boats” have already influenced the naval dynamic in the Black Sea, helping to neutralise the Russian Black Sea fleet to the extent that Ukraine reportedly destroyed about a third of it. The introduction of maritime drone technology like the Magura V5 has been instrumental in restricting Russian naval operations along the Crimean coast.
Further strategic discussions during the Norwegian-Ukrainian exchanges included enhancing Ukraine’s domestic output of long-range weaponry. Europe has shown increasing backing for this effort, with Germany alone allocating €5 billion for long-range weapons production. These weapons provide Ukraine with vital deep-strike capabilities that enable precision targeting deep within adversary territory. Analysts note that such capabilities are pivotal for a smaller, asymmetric force like Ukraine’s, as they allow the projection of strategic force while minimising the exposure of launch platforms to enemy retaliation.
This confluence of enhanced domestic production, foreign investment, and industrial collaboration reflects a concerted global effort to bolster Ukraine’s defence autonomy and strategic reach. It signals an evolving defence posture where indigenous production capabilities, supported by international partnerships, are becoming central to Ukraine’s ability to sustain and escalate its military response in a protracted conflict environment.
Source: Noah Wire Services
