The Norwegian-Finnish company Nammo (Nordic Ammunition Company) has signed an agreement that facilitates the establishment of licensed production of 155-mm artillery shells in Ukraine by a Ukrainian defense company, the Norwegian government said on its website on Friday.

"Ukraine has a great need for artillery ammunition to counter Russia's offensive war. The government has taken a number of measures to increase the production of artillery ammunition in Norway. At the same time, we see that it is important to strengthen the Ukrainians' ability to produce modern artillery ammunition in Ukraine," Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said.

According to the statement, the Norwegian government has opened the way for the transfer of its own defense technologies to Ukraine, and Norway is allocating funds to make this happen.

"Norway currently contributes by donating ammunition from its own stockpiles and directly from industry. Now Nammo wants to share its recipe with Ukraine. This means that Ukrainian forces can receive supplies faster," Norwegian Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said.

Nammo CEO Morten Brandtzeg said the company was proud to be able to share technology and expertise that would help strengthen Ukraine. "Cooperation with the Norwegian authorities was crucial to making this possible. Significant work goes into developing and qualifying effective ammunition suitable for series production, and Nammo has invested time and money in technology and expertise that can now be transferred to Ukraine," he said.

The Norwegian government supports this cooperation and has decided to allocate funds so that Nammo can transfer technology and expertise to its Ukrainian partner. This measure is funded through the Nansen programme.

"It is absolutely important for Ukraine and for our own security that Norway continues to support Ukraine's defensive fight. Cooperation with the Ukrainian defense industry is a smart and effective way to support Ukrainian forces," Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said.

In March, the Norwegian government opened the door for Norwegian defense companies to apply to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry for a technology transfer license to Ukraine. Nammo applied and was granted a technology license by the Foreign Ministry.

As reported in the Telegram channel of Minister for Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin, this is about 155 mm caliber shells.

"We will always be grateful to our partners for help in the form of shells, but we are even more grateful for the support of local production. Producing more shells in Ukraine is important both from the point of view of efficiency and logistics, and from the point of view of the economy," Kamyshin said.

According to him, this is already the second license for the production of 155 caliber shells in Ukraine – the first was a license from KNDS / Nexter.