Ukraine and Norway launch joint production of mid-strike drones, first deliveries promised by summer

Ukraine and Norway are launching a large-scale project to establish the first joint production facility for Ukrainian drones in Norway. The agreement was signed in Kyiv by Norwegian Ambassador Lars Ragnar Aalerud Hansen and Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense Serhii Boiev, according to the Ministry of Defense.

The project involves the manufacture of several thousand mid-strike drones, which will be fully transferred to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Funding will be provided by the Norwegian side: the funds are allocated in addition to the USD 7 billion in defense support already earmarked for 2026. In total, Norway plans to allocate over USD 1.5 billion this year specifically for the purchase of Ukrainian-made weapons.

The first deliveries of systems manufactured under this partnership are expected to reach the front lines as early as this summer. Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called this cooperation a win-win situation, as Ukraine receives critically needed weapons to seize the initiative on the battlefield, while Norway gains access to advanced technologies that have already proven their effectiveness.

In turn, Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Onshuus Sandvik emphasized that the production of Ukrainian drones under safe conditions on Norwegian territory is a strategic step that not only strengthens Ukraine’s defense capabilities but also develops Norway’s own industrial base in critically important areas.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on April 15, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that members of the North Atlantic Alliance will provide USD 60 billion in military support to Ukraine through 2026.