Ukraine and Norway launch joint production of medium-range strike drones

Ukraine plans to manufacture several thousand mid-strike drones on Norwegian territory, with all systems produced under the project to be transferred to Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

The agreement was signed in Kyiv by Norwegian Ambassador to Ukraine Lars Ragnar Aalerud Hansen and Deputy Defense Minister for European Integration Serhii Boiev.

The deal will allow Ukraine to scale up production of battlefield-proven technologies and strengthen the defense capabilities of both countries, the ministry said.

Norway will finance the project, with the first drones expected to be delivered to Ukraine’s military by summer 2026.

The agreement also предусматривает broader industrial cooperation, including joint research initiatives, the ministry said.

Norway plans to allocate more than $1.5 billion this year to purchase Ukrainian-made weapons for Ukraine’s Armed Forces, according to the Defense Ministry.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre signed a declaration on defense and security cooperation on April 14.