The Norwegian government has adopted a new strategy to enhance the use of and protection against drones. The focus is on cooperation between the defence sector and allies.

On Monday, Norway's Minister of Defence, Tore O. Sandvik, presented the government's new drone strategy. It sets the framework and ambitions for how the Norwegian Armed Forces should implement and further develop drones, as well as defend against them.

The strategy emphasises four priorities: strengthening defence against drones, rapidly implementing new technology and concepts, increased cooperation with civilian sectors and allies, and long-term investments in technology and competence.

– To succeed with a drone initiative in the Armed Forces, all relevant actors across the entire defence sector, industry, and society at large need to collaborate, says Sandvik in a press release from the government.

Experiences from the war in Ukraine have influenced the content of the strategy. According to Sandvik, Ukraine is now a world leader in drone development. Cooperation with Ukraine and other allies is therefore highlighted as an important part of the implementation.

Over the weekend, the Norwegian government announced that Defence Minister Tore Sandvik signed a memorandum of understanding with his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal, to establish Ukrainian drone production in Norway. A pilot line is planned to be ready by 2026 and will then be expanded for increased capacity.

– With this strategy, we have a foundation for all actors to work more purposefully, coordinated, and effectively with drones and drone defence, says Sandvik.

The strategy also addresses the possibility of replacing foreign components, for example from China, with alternatives from Norway or allied countries. The government wants to review procurement regulations to enable faster acquisitions and updates of technology.

– What are modern drones today can be outdated in just a few months. Therefore, the technology must be continuously updated, says Sandvik.