– I want to congratulate KNDS Deutschland and RITEK who today have signed an agreement that will allow tanks to be produced in Norway for the first time. 37 of the 54 Leopard 2 tanks that Norway has ordered from the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann will be assembled at RITEK in Levanger. This could mark the beginning of a new Norwegian industrial era, says Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp).
According to the Norwegian government, the plan also means that RITEK will not only assemble the Norwegian Leopard tanks but also become a Nordic center for maintenance, repair, and upgrade of the Nordic Leopard fleet. Furthermore, it is planned that the production line will be maintained even after the manufacturing of the Norwegian tanks, so that the facility can also produce for export to other countries.
– There is a need for increased heavy workshop capacity in the Nordic region, something that the agreement can enable. The contract signed by RITEK and KNDS Deutschland here today will strengthen both the industrial cooperation between Norway and Germany, while also enhancing Europe's resilience and supply security, says the Defense Minister.
In February 2023, Norway decided to acquire 54 tanks of the Leopard 2 A8 NOR type (the name change was made later) with an option for an additional 18 tanks. The delivery is expected to take place between 2026 and 2031. According to the previous announcement from the Norwegian government, the costs are approximately 19.7 billion Norwegian kroner, which corresponds to about 1.7 billion euros.
– This is another important step for Norway and Nordic total defense in the NATO context as well as for SES in its role as an established, innovative Nordic defense industry player, says Ola Lundqvist, CEO of System Engineering Solutions 37.