The Norwegian Ministry of Defence has authorised the Defence Logistics Organisation (FLO) to place a contract with the US authorities for the purchase of the Javelin anti-tank weapons system for the Norwegian Army. The contract is worth approximately NOK 600 million.

Javelin is a man-portable anti-tank weapons system capable of combating modern tanks and other hard targets at so-called medium ranges, that is to say up to 2,500 metres. This capability will enable Norwegian soldiers to protect themselves more effectively by engaging targets earlier, and at longer ranges, than is the case today.

“The Army has long wanted a system of this performance, and so I am very pleased that we shall now have this capability in place,” says Defence minister Kristin Krohn Devold.

The weapon system is being supplied by the US consortium Javelin Joint Venture (JJV), and deliveries are due to take place over the period mid-2006 to mid-2007. The contract is for 90 Command Launch Units, 526 missiles, training systems, spares and maintenance. The weapon system is well matched to the new structure and missions of the Norwegian Armed Forces and it will be allocated mainly to Army units.

This contract is also extremely good news for Norwegian industry. In parallel with the negotiations between FLO and the US authorities for the supply of Javelin, the Ministry of Defence has concluded an offset agreement with JJV. Under this agreement, the Norwegian defence industry, including Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Nammo, Vinghøg, Dyno and NATECH, will undertake work worth approximately NOK 570 million.