Norway will donate additional NASAMS air defense systems worth NOK 335 million (approximately USD 31 million) to Ukraine. Some will be donated from Norway’s own warehouses to ensure quick delivery to Ukraine, while additional systems will be ordered from industry for later delivery.
«Air defense systems are of vital importance to Ukraine. The Ukrainian government is asking for more air defense to be able to defend itself,» says Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram.
Russian forces frequently attack with both drones and missiles, and as temperatures drop, attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure will increase.
«Norwegian NASAMS systems have high accuracy. This will help save Ukrainian lives and prevent further destruction of infrastructure. Air defense is also an important factor in protecting military personnel on the battlefield,» added Minister Bjørn Arild Gram.
See also: Norway donates NASAMS support package and Black Hornet nanodrones to Ukraine
Donation from Norwegian reserves, to cover the emergency
Due to the urgency with which Ukraine needs to receive more air defense systems, Norway decided to donate even more NASAMS equipment from the armed forces’ own reserves. According to its own assessments, this would not reduce the Norwegian defense capability.
«The equipment can be shipped at relatively short notice and will be crucial to bolstering air defense against Russian attacks this winter. These are difficult assessments, but Ukraine has significant support needs, and it is crucial for everyone’s security that Russia does not succeed in its war,» Gram says.
Direct industrial participation
On Wednesday, December 13, President Volodomyr Zelenskyj met with the leaders of 14 Norwegian companies to discuss how the companies can contribute to the war effort and future reconstruction of the country.
At that meeting it was decided, among other issues, Ukraine will receive (donated by the Norwegian government) eight additional NASAMS launching systems and four additional NASAMS fire direction centers. This is the same number of systems that Norway has previously donated. But these systems will be new from the factory, so their delivery will take place in some time.
