General
1. Introduction
2. Relations with the Norwegian Defence Industry
3. Defence Procurement Arrangements
4. Where to find defence procurement information
5. Regulations
6. Guidelines for the establishment and implementation of
offset in connection with defence procurements abroad
Defence Procurement Organisations
1. The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence
2. HQ Defence Command Norway, Logistics Staff (HQDEFCOMNOR/LOG)
3. Norwegian Army Materiel Command (ARMYMATCOMNOR)
4. Royal Norwegian Navy Materiel Command (NAVMATCOMNOR)
5. Royal Norwegian Air Force Materiel Command (AIRMATCOMNOR)
6. Norwegian Defence Construction Service (NODEFCON)
7. Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (NDRE)
8. Norwegian Defence Communications and Data Services
Administration (NODECA)
9. Norwegian Defence Medical Service (NDMS)
2. RELATIONS WITH THE NORWEGIAN DEFENCE INDUSTRYWhile Norway's defence industry is focused primarily on the needs of the Norwegian Armed Forces in terms of the provision of weapons and other equipment, exports are an essential requirement for its continuing viability. Access to the international armaments market is not easily obtained and in order to maintain a national defence industry, the Ministry of Defence wishes to emphasise its continuing commitment to the establishment of offset agreements when placing major contracts abroad. If the Armed Forces' requirements for high quality, advanced technology systems and equipment at competitive prices are to be met also in the longer term, Norway's defence investment must as far as possible be designed to promote Norwegian industry and the advancement of technology through research and development (R & D). Investment in the development of high technology products has contributed to the healthy growth and increased levels of competence to be found in Norwegian industry in general. The national policy is therefore to continue to encourage this positive development through measures including the placing of research and development contracts with Norwegian defence companies. Exports of defence equipment will be essential to the future well-being of the Norwegian defence industry. The defence authorities encourage Norwegian companies to compete in the international defence market not least because this helps to maintain a robust technological and industrial environment. In this way the Norwegian defence industry can sustain its ability to meet the future needs of the Armed Forces for technologically advanced systems and equipment. It is likely that the current strict regulation of armament exports, based on a parliamentary bill which dates back to 1959, will be maintained. This means inevitably that armaments exports will continue to involve some difficult choices between conflicting interests and objectives. The trend towards more technologically advanced equipment requiring substantial R&D investment means that the procurement of defence equipment from abroad is likely to remain at a high level. The Ministry of Defence will continue to require offset purchase arrangements in the case of major contracts with foreign suppliers. It will be emphasised that offset contracts must be such as to bring new technology to Norwegian industry. Emphasis will also be placed on the establishment of strategic alliances aimed at long-term cooperation between Norwegian and foreign companies both in the field of R&D and in the production of high technology equipment. In order to realise maximum benefit from Norwegian defence expenditure, and to strengthen existing expertise in areas where Norwegian industry already has a competitive edge, the policy will be to coordinate the development of expertise in the defence industry with the efforts being made to promote levels of expertise throughout the civil industrial sector as well. Specific areas of particular interest in this context include:
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