Kongsberg and Ukraine partner to develop missiles and USVs

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (Kongsberg), a Norway-based defence technology company, announced agreements with two major Ukrainian industry partners to develop and deliver low-cost, high-volume air defence missiles and uncrewed surface vessels in Ukraine, according to a 22nd June press release. Concurrently, the company has established a permanent office in Kyiv.

During a visit to the Ukrainian capital, Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Ukrainian partner to jointly develop and produce air defence missiles. These missiles are intended for use against various aerial targets, including drones, addressing an urgent need for cost-effective, high-volume solutions that can be integrated with the NASAMS air defence system.

Ukraine has received at least 13 complete NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) from international partners including the US, Norway, and Lithuania. The short- to medium-range system employs existing air-to-air missiles like the AIM-9 Sidewinder and AMRAAM, which enables it to draw on existing stocks. However, the intensity and sustained nature of Russian missile and drone strikes have put even these supplies under strain. 

NASAMS is a static system designed to provide high volume defence of an area or critical target. Credit: Soldatnytt from Oslo, Norway – Øvelse Seapie (17 of 17), CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11845639. 

Lie commented, “There is an urgent need to produce more cost-effective air defence missiles in large volumes, to deal with threats from attacking drones. Together with our Ukrainian partner, and with support from the Norwegian authorities, we look forward to developing an effective missile that we can manufacture and deliver in large numbers and that can be integrated with the NASAMS air defence system.” Norway’s Minister of Defense, Tore O. Sandvik, further confirmed that the government is funding this development, emphasising NASAMS’s role in protecting Ukrainian lives and infrastructure.

This likely relates to developments in how Russia has been using its Geran one-way attack drones. They previously flew at low altitudes to minimise the warning time received by Ukrainian defenders, but that made them vulnerable to heavy machine gun fire from the ground. Instead, they often fly higher and out of reach of machine gun and cannon fire, as well as with many decoys, which forces Ukraine to expend air defence missiles to intercept them. 

Separately, Kongsberg signed an MoU with another Ukrainian industrial player for the development of unmanned surface vessels, or drone boats, which will be equipped with weapon stations from Kongsberg. Lie highlighted the critical role unmanned vessels play in Ukraine’s defence and in neutralising naval threats, affirming Kongsberg’s readiness to deliver advanced maritime capabilities with partner support. The Norwegian government is also supporting the funding of these unmanned maritime capabilities.

These initiatives align with broader international efforts to bolster Ukraine’s defence capabilities, particularly in air and maritime domains. Recent contributions have focused on significantly increasing the supply of air defence systems, including commitments from the UK to fund Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) and the delivery of advanced IRIS-T systems. Lessons from the ongoing conflict have underscored the necessity for multi-layered air and missile defence, as well as innovative, cost-effective solutions to counter evolving threats like swarms of drones. 

Calibre comment

Kongsberg’s decision to localise development and production in Ukraine reflects a growing trend towards supporting Ukraine’s domestic defence industry and fostering long-term security partnerships. Ukraine has also signed a similar MoU with Germany, which is focused on the development of long-range missiles.And Denmark is supporting Ukraine through procurement of artillery systems directly from the Ukrainian manufacturer, which helps the company to sustain production. 

There is also a dual focus in terms of providing aid to Ukraine, with countries generally looking to address the short-term needs for weapons and equipment that is needed now, as well as long-term, post negotiation needs. This means helping Ukraine’s domestic defence industry to develop its capabilities so that it can meet more of its equipment requirements domestically in the future. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on 25th June, 2025. Credit for the featured image at the top of the article is Kongsberg.