United to win: Norwegian NASAMS missile manufacturer to create company in Ukraine

The Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace intends to produce hundreds of missiles for NASAMS air defense systems in Ukraine.

The company president, Eirik Lie, stated this during his interview with Euractiv.

"We are currently creating a company in Ukraine. We are conducting close negotiations with Ukrainian industrialists on creating a joint venture. The primary task is to increase the production of missiles for our air defense system in Ukraine based on Ukrainian technologies," he said.

According to Lie, the discussion revolves around the "mass production of missiles, meaning hundreds of them."

He said the company is considering possibly creating joint ventures "within a few months."

The president of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace also added that in the long term, when the war is over, Ukraine could become part of the missile supply chain for air defense systems.

"We at Kongsberg want to use the strengths of Ukrainian industry. There is a lot of innovation happening in Ukraine right now, and we will be part of this process.

It is essential for us to be there," he stressed.

For reference:

NASAMS is a Norwegian medium-range anti-aircraft missile system. Developed by Norwegian Kongsberg and American Raytheon, it can launch 72 missiles in 12 seconds. It is used to shoot down aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles within a radius of up to 40 km.

Photo: gagadget com

The complex was created to replace the MIM-23 Hawk air defense system, which was in service with the Norwegian armed forces.

NASAMS became the first ground-based system to use AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles and the first homing missile system in the West.

Ukraine's armed forces received the NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system in November 2022.

At the beginning of 2023, it was reported that Ukrainian anti-aircraft gunners, using the NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system provided by international partners, destroyed more than a hundred enemy missiles and drones in 5 months of combat work.

In addition, Norway has allocated a new package of financial assistance to Ukraine. The funds will be used to purchase additional air defense equipment in the United States under the JUMPSTART program.