Officials in Oslo have said on Friday said that they have agreed to let Ukraine manufacture Norwegian-developed artillery ammunition. NATO members are racing to increase production of weapons, ammunition and missiles, partly to supply Ukraine but also to replenish stocks and be able to counter new threats. One approach to boosting deliveries to Ukraine has been to allow for production of ammunition on Ukrainian territory.
The Nordic country’s government said Norway-based defence materials firm Nammo has signed a deal that allows a Ukrainian defense group to establish licensed production in Ukraine of Norwegian-developed 155mm artillery shells. “The government has opened up to Norwegian defense technology being transferred to Ukraine, and Norway is contributing funding to make this happen,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
Australia To Also Make Norwegian Missiles
Australia has also stated that it would jointly manufacture long-range Naval Strike Missiles and Joint Strike Missiles with Norway’s Kongsberg Defence in the city of Newcastle on Australia’s eastern coast, the only site that produces these missiles outside Norway. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the Australian government will contribute A$850 million ($574 million) to establish a manufacturing facility with Kongsberg at the Newcastle Airport precinct later this year, with production to start in 2027.
The anti-ship cruise missiles would be used by the Australian Defence Force and also exported by the U.S. security ally, he said. Australia has said it will establish guided weapons manufacturing under a defence overhaul to boost the Australian Defence Force’s long-range precision strike ability, amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
In the Indo Pacific region, Japan and South Korea also operate the F-35, while Singapore too has ordered the fighter jet. Australia is also working with the U.S. to develop a hypersonic missile and will also start co-manufacturing guided missiles with the United States next year.
Team Bharatshakti
(With inputs from Reuters)