Norway to donate air defence missiles to Ukraine

Norway is providing substantial support to Ukraine in the fight against Russia’s illegal war. All the political parties in the Storting (Norwegian parliament) have endorsed the five-year Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine amounting to NOK 75 billion. Earlier this year, the Government announced that it is accelerating funding under the support programme and will provide an extra NOK 2.5 billion this year, bringing the total support in 2023 to NOK 10 billion.

Air defence is critical

Air defence is critical to Ukraine’s ability to protect the civilian population and front-line infrastructure and military units against Russian air attacks.

Air defence support has been a top priority for Ukraine since the start of the war. The air defence support provided by Norway and other Western countries has been vital in preventing Russia from taking control of the airspace, and has thus helped to avert further large-scale civilian suffering and military losses.

‘Ukraine has already received substantial donations of air defence equipment from Western countries, but its needs in this area are enormous. Norway will continue to support Ukraine in its fight to defend itself against Russian forces. That is why we are now making this donation of air defence missiles. This is one of the largest Norwegian donations of military equipment to Ukraine to date,’ said Mr Støre.

The missiles can be deployed from launchers to be donated by Sweden.

The missiles being donated will be taken from the Norwegian Armed Forces’ repositories and replacements will be procured. This will be financed under the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine.

Norway has previously donated the NASAMS air defence system and Mistral air defence missiles to Ukraine.