December 24, 2022

Norway procures 155mm artillery ammunition from NAMMO

By Defence Industry Europe

In mid-December, the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) signed a contract with the domestic defense industry company NAMMO. According to the agreement, the Norwegian Armed Forces will be supplied with an unspecified amount of 155mm artillery ammunition NM269. — Photo: Nammo.

In mid-December, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) signed a contract with the domestic defense industry company NAMMO. According to the agreement, the Norwegian Armed Forces will be supplied with an unspecified amount of 155mm artillery ammunition NM269 with a range over 40 km.

NDMA informed that artillery ammunition is to be delivered over the next “few years”. Procurement is caused by the war in Ukraine. Therefore, the NDMA accelerates the acquisition of ammunition for the Norwegian Armed Forces.

According to NDMA, the deliveries of artillery ammunition from NAMMO will start next year. NM269 (IM HE-ER) ammunition has a range of over 40 kilometers. This will enable the K9 VIDAR self-propelled howitzer, which serves in the Norwegian land forces, to be used with more effectiveness.

Tomas Beck, head of the land capabilities in NDMA stressed that NM269 artillery ammunition has also higher precision. This, combined with a greater range, will increase the firepower of the Norwegian army. Furthermore, the NM269 is safer for soldiers to handle and transport than the older types of artillery ammunition.

The NM269 artillery ammunition has been developed in recent years by defence industry company NAMMO in close cooperation with the NDMA.

Norwegian army currently operates 24 K9 VIDAR (Versatile Indirect Artillery) 155mm self-propelled howitzers. They were supplied by the South Korean defence industry company Hanwha Defense under the agreement signed in 2017.

A few weeks ago the NDMA has ordered an additional four K9 VIDAR howitzers. This order has been made according to an option included in the contract with a South Korean company.