Ukraine, Norway to Launch Joint Production of ‘Mid-Strike’ Drones

Ukraine and Norway will launch joint production of Ukrainian-designed “mid-strike” drones, with thousands of units to be manufactured on Norwegian territory and delivered to Ukraine’s Defense Forces, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on Monday, April 27.

According to the ministry, the project will be fully financed by Norway by using additional funds allocated on top of the roughly $7 billion in defense aid planned for Ukraine in 2026.

The agreement was signed in Kyiv by Norwegian Ambassador Lars Ragnar Aalerud Hansen and Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister for European Integration Serhii Boiev.

According to the ministry, the deal enables scaling up production of Ukrainian drone technologies that have already proven effective on the battlefield, while strengthening the defense capabilities of both countries.

Ukraine expects the first drone systems produced in Norway to be delivered by summer.

Norway also plans to allocate more than $1.5 billion in 2026 to procure Ukrainian-made weapons for Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the cooperation directly strengthens Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities.

“Joint production projects and guaranteed drone supply for brigades directly enhance our forces on the battlefield,” he said, describing the partnership as “a true win-win.”

Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Onshuus Sandvik said supporting Ukraine is key to Norway’s own security.

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Ukraine has gained an edge over Russia in FPV drones, outproducing and deploying them at a ratio of 1.5 to 1, according to Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky. He said Ukrainian drone operators struck nearly 180,000 verified targets in May and neutralized around 4,000 Shahed drones, while long-range drone units continued expanding attacks on Russian command centers and logistics hubs.

“This is an important and concrete step toward deepening Norwegian-Ukrainian cooperation, while strengthening Norway’s defense industry and enabling Ukraine to produce drones in safe conditions,” he said.

The agreement also provides for broader industrial cooperation, including research and development initiatives, as Ukraine seeks to expand defense partnerships with allies.