Norway to Fund Development and Production of Naval Drones in Ukraine
The Norwegian government will provide funding for the development and production of naval drones in Ukraine.
According to the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, the project will be carried out in partnership with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. The Norwegian company will collaborate closely with Ukrainian experts, sharing its advanced technologies and expertise to support local innovation and strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
In total, the government has allocated NOK 6.7 billion (approximately €576 million) for 2025 to support the maritime coalition, which Norway leads jointly with the United Kingdom.
“Part of this funding will be used for the development and production of unmanned surface vessels using KDA technology, with manufacturing based in Ukraine,” said Norwegian Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram.
In addition, the Norwegian government, together with Kongsberg and Ukraine, will jointly fund and develop missiles for the NASAMS air defence system.
A key step in the cooperation with Kongsberg will be the implementation of new projects aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s air defence and advancing joint initiatives in the defense industry.
It’s worth noting that Norway and the United Kingdom are working closely together to support Ukraine in the development of naval drones, as well as in creating customized models tailored to Ukraine’s specific needs.
Militarnyi previously reported that the UK government, together with the Ministry of Defence, announced the development of a universal maritime drone for Ukraine.
According to the specifications, the government has outlined the requirements the drone must meet. The naval drone must be capable of reaching speeds over 40 knots, even in sea state 3 conditions. It should have a range of approximately 1,300 kilometers when fully loaded and a minimum operational autonomy of 72 hours.
The drone is expected to feature a low profile, resistance to electronic warfare (EW) systems, and the ability to operate autonomously in the event of signal loss. It will be capable of carrying multiple missiles with high-explosive fragmentation warheads, with an effective range of 30 to 100 kilometers.
Additionally, the drone will be equipped to provide air defense capabilities to protect against helicopters and other drones.
