Slovak – Norwegian Defence Industry Seminar

Key Note Address by State Secretary Roger Ingebrigtsen, Norwegian Ministry of Defence, 28 October 2010.

First of all, I will underline that we value a close relationship with our defence materiel suppliers and with the defence research establishment – with the common goal to develop a modern fighting force. This is included in the Parliamentary Report no. 38, “Defence and Industry – Strategic Partners”. This 2-year old Parliamentary Report, I will say, has been important for us in the practical life to implement a strategy based on an early dialogue with the defence industry, identifying cooperative projects and an early selection of industrial partners. This strategy aims at strengthening the cooperation with the industry, giving optimal support to military capacities and contributing towards competitiveness:

Parliamentary Report No. 38 - Goals

• Improved relations towards the defence industry
• Improved quality of our defence materiel
• Improved indstrial competence / international competiveness

We allocate some funds for research and development of new capabilities  - and some programs are mentioned below. Our NASAMS air defence system is of particular interest today.

 Cooperation MoD, Armed Forces, R&D, and Industry

• Our military forces are the Norwegian defence industry’s most important costumer, though not always the biggest costumer.
• Close and frutful cooperation – also in the early stages of projects - between the Armed Forces, Defence Research Establishment and industry.
• The government allocates research and development funding for important projects, contributing to:
• NASAMS air defence system
• Naval Strike Missile / Joint Strike Missile
• Penguin missile
• Ammunition and explosives
• etc.

Our domestic defence industry is relatively small, but capable and competitive in certain areas. As a consequence of our needs, we have identified and given priority to develop and maintain high competence in the areas mentioned below:

Norway’s key areas of competence

• Information and communication technologies;
• System integration
• Missile technology and weapon and sensor systems
• Maritime technology
• Underwater technology and sensors
• Simulation technology
• Ammunition and military explosives
• Material technology

This concludes my short presentation. Thank you!