Ericsson, Kongsberg, Nokia, Patria, Saab and Terma have joined the defence track within the industry alliance Nordic Compass and are proposing four joint initiatives to build Nordic defence capability. The companies are inviting the Nordic governments, particularly the defence ministries and armed forces, to participate. This is stated in a statement published by Nordic Compass on 5 November.
"Our armed forces need capabilities faster, and closer Nordic cooperation must help deliver them. The Nordic countries are investing record amounts and cooperating more than ever, but still have five separate and somewhat differently structured defence procurement chains," says Panu Routila, CEO of Patria.
Patria is leading the work on a new Nordic defence industry model. The goal is a coherent procurement chain in which equipment that has been tested, certified or purchased in one country is valid in all participating countries, while national decision-making authority is retained. As a first step, the proposals include mutual recognition of certification, a joint Nordic capability roadmap, and a pilot framework agreement that funds production capacity.
The companies are also proposing a joint Nordic space-based missile warning system, a shared maritime situational picture covering both surface and subsurface domains to protect critical infrastructure, and a secure digital backbone intended to allow Nordic and allied forces to operate together across borders. According to the companies, the initiatives are intended to complement the security efforts of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and the EU (European Union).
The statement was published on the same day as the Nordic Compass Summit was held in Gothenburg (western Sweden). According to the Office of the President of Finland, Finnish President Alexander Stubb was due to give the opening address, and according to a press release from the Swedish Ministry of Defence, Defence Minister Pål Jonson was also due to take part.