Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj and Norwegian Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik met in Kyiv in 2025 | Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
Norway and Ukraine have signed an agreement to begin joint production of Ukrainian drones in Norway, marking a new phase in defence cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement was signed in Kyiv by Norway’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Lars Ragnar Aalerud Hansen, and Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Sergiy Boyev. It is part of the “Build with Ukraine” initiative, aimed at expanding production capacity and supporting Ukraine’s defence requirements.
According to the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, the Ukrainian manufacturer involved in the project expects to deliver the first drones produced in Norway before the summer. The agreement also includes provisions for industrial cooperation, supply chain development, and joint research and development.
“Supporting Ukraine’s defence struggle is the most important thing we are doing for Norway’s security. This is a collaboration that benefits both countries. I am very pleased that we are delivering quickly on the ambition set out in the drone strategy presented in December last year, and that we are following up on the joint statement signed by the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy earlier this week. This is an important and concrete step towards deeper Norwegian-Ukrainian cooperation, strengthening Norway’s defence industry while providing much-needed relief for Ukraine, enabling them to produce drones in safe surroundings in Norway,” said Tore O. Sandvik.
Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, Mykhailo Fedorov, said: “I would like to thank Norway for its consistent support and for focusing on the capabilities that Ukraine critically needs. This year, Norway is allocating more than $1.5 billion for Ukrainian-made weapons for our Defence Forces. Projects like Build in Ukraine, Build with Ukraine and the basic guaranteed drone supply for brigades directly strengthen our forces on the battlefield. Norway will gain the ability to produce technologies that have proven their effectiveness in combat, while Ukraine will receive the drones needed to regain the initiative on the battlefield. This is a true win-win partnership.”
The agreement also allows for future expansion to include other defence products and joint development efforts. Norwegian authorities said the cooperation is intended to strengthen production capacity and enable knowledge transfer between the two countries.
– “The expertise gained from this project can be used to develop Norwegian concepts and increase Norway’s production capacity in a highly critical area,” said Sandvik.
Details about the companies involved and production capacity have not been disclosed.
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