Norway has announced that it will allocate 1.2 billion Norwegian kroner, around €110 million, to the development and acquisition of naval drones for Ukraine in 2026. The funds will be made available through the Nansen Programme, Norway’s main support framework for Kyiv since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The announcement was made after a meeting between Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the Nordic-Baltic summit in Tallinn.
According to the Norwegian government, companies from Norway and Ukraine will be involved in the production and supply of the unmanned maritime platforms. The initiative aims to combine Norwegian expertise in the maritime sector with the knowledge Ukraine has gained through the operational use of naval drones during the war.
Støre said Norway’s maritime industry is among the most advanced in the world and that this capability should be used to support Ukrainian defence. The prime minister also noted that Ukraine has already demonstrated the effectiveness of naval drones in reconnaissance missions, offensive operations and protection against Russian attacks.
One of the central objectives of the new package will be to strengthen the security of Ukrainian maritime exports through the Black Sea. The route remains essential for Ukraine’s economy and for the international supply of grain and other agricultural products.
Ukraine’s maritime corridor in the Black Sea has been operating since September 2023. Since then, around 200 million tonnes of cargo are said to have been transported along the route, more than half of it consisting of agricultural products. In recent months, however, Kyiv and its partners have warned of an increase in Russian attacks against civilian vessels and port infrastructure.
In this context, industrial cooperation between Norway and Ukraine is expected to focus on the development of new unmanned surface platforms capable of operating in a constantly threatened environment. The systems may be configured for different missions, including surveillance, maritime protection, weapons deployment and support for the launch of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Norway and the United Kingdom lead the Maritime Capability Coalition in Support of Ukraine. Since the initiative was created in 2023, Oslo has advocated the use of its naval and industrial expertise to strengthen the Ukrainian Navy and expand Kyiv’s capabilities in the Black Sea.
As part of the new funding, the Norwegian government intends to enable the delivery of up to 200 unmanned vessels by the end of 2026. The platforms are expected to be produced in different configurations, according to Ukraine’s operational needs.
Norwegian Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik said the cooperation will also have an internal impact for Oslo. According to him, the partnership with Ukraine will help prepare Norwegian military personnel and specialists for the future integration of naval drones into the long-term development programme of the Royal Norwegian Navy.
Separately, the Norwegian government recalled that the country’s parliament supported the continuation of military aid to Ukraine in 2026, worth 70 billion Norwegian kroner. Funds from the Nansen Programme are distributed in coordination with Ukrainian authorities, with priority given to areas considered to have the greatest impact on the country’s defence.
Source and images: Regjeringen. | Telegram @SBUkr. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
