Norway to invest more than $100 million in naval drones for Ukraine
Photo: Ukrainian MAGURA V5 naval drone (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Norway announced a new military support package for Ukraine. The funding will go toward manufacturing and purchasing maritime drones, according to the Norwegian government.
Oslo will allocate 1.2 billion Norwegian kroner (approximately $126 million) for this purpose under the Nansen Support Programme.
The funding will cover both the development of new naval drones and the purchase of ready-made systems from Norwegian and Ukrainian manufacturers.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre noted that Ukrainian forces are already actively using naval drones for reconnaissance missions, strike operations, and defense against Russian attacks.
"Norway’s maritime industry is a global leader. I am pleased that this expertise can also be used to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom," he said.
Støre announced the new assistance during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the summit of Nordic and Baltic prime ministers in Tallinn.
The Norwegian government emphasized that the safe operation of Ukraine’s maritime corridor in the Black Sea is vital both for Ukraine’s economy and for global food security.
For this reason, Norwegian-Ukrainian industrial cooperation is continuing to develop unmanned surface vehicles designed to protect civilian shipping and trade routes.
Norway and the United Kingdom have led the maritime coalition supporting Ukraine since its creation in 2023. The Norwegian government stressed that it will continue to leverage the potential of its maritime industry to strengthen Ukraine’s naval capabilities.
According to current plans, vessel No. 200 is expected to be delivered by the end of the year. These unmanned platforms can be equipped with sensors, weapons systems, or aerial drones depending on operational requirements.
Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik said that the cooperation not only helps Ukraine but also provides valuable experience for Norway’s military in the use of unmanned surface vehicles.
Earlier, the Norwegian government announced an allocation of 2.8 billion kroner (approximately $302 million) to purchase American-made weapons for Ukraine through the PURL mechanism.
Following that decision, Norway’s total funding for weapons procurement for the Ukrainian Armed Forces under the program exceeded 12.5 billion kroner.
