Norway’s Defence Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide announced the decision to conduct the project for providing the Army a Mobile Ground Based Air Defence System in a direct acquisition with KONGSBERG.
The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency will initiate the acquisition process with KONGSBERG to define the final configuration and system solution before the delivery contract is signed. The deliveries are planned for 2018 to 2021.
Army Ground Based Air Defence is a highly mobile, short-range air defence system based on some existing elements in today’s structure in combination with the acquisition of some new elements. The system will reuse NASAMS command and control and its unique network solutions.
KONGSBERG has been a supplier of air defence solutions to the Norwegian armed forces through several decades, from canon and gun systems to today’s modern NASAMS. NASAMS has also been the foundation for significant competence developments and spin-off’s to other technology areas. The Army Mobile Ground Based Air Defence system will be a world leading solution with unique capabilities to combat modern airborne threats, as well as having the ability to integrate with networks with other sensors and weapons.
“NASAMS is a very important product for KONGSBERG and one of the most successful internationally. We are very pleased to be chosen as supplier for the Army Mobile Ground Based Air Defence. This will add further capabilities to the Norwegian air defence community, and secure jobs in Kongsberg and for a large number of subcontractors throughout Norway,” said Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence Systems.
Meanwhile, KONGSBERG also signed new contracts for delivery of PROTECTOR RWS to armasuisse for approximately MNOK 130.
The remote weapon system that will be delivered to armasuisse is an updated configuration with new advanced capabilities for new platforms.
“KONGSBERG has delivered PROTECTOR remote weapon systems to Switzerland since 2007. This configuration is the result of a close cooperation with the customer to develop the system for a new generation of platforms,” said Espen Henriksen, President of Kongsberg Protech Systems.
The PROTECTOR RWS protects military troops by allowing the vehicle's weapons to be operated from a protected position inside the vehicle. As of today, PROTECTOR has been chosen by 18 nations and KONGSBERG is the world’s leading provider of remote weapon systems.
KONGSBERG is an international, knowledge-based group delivering high technology systems and solutions to clients within the oil and gas industry, merchant marine, defence and aerospace. KONGSBERG has 7 300 employees located in more than 25 countries.
