Norwegian defence firms protest exclusion from Ukraine procurement contracts

At a parliamentary hearing, representatives of Norway’s defence sector voiced strong displeasure that the government is not following the Storting’s unanimous request to allocate more of the Ukraine aid to Norwegian firms. They warned that the policy shifts jobs, technology development and production capacity away from Norway at a time when Europe needs more defence industry output. The defence minister explained that a substantial portion of the aid will be spent on foreign purchases, leaving a limited budget for domestic initiatives such as drones and autonomous systems. Industry groups, including Kongsberg Gruppen, Nammo, Norsk Industri and the Defence and Security Industry Association, urged the government to provide a concrete strategy for involving Norwegian companies in upcoming large-scale procurement programmes, including future frigate acquisitions.