Norway joins the Drone Coalition

16 February, 2025 Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Onshuus Sandvik during the signing of a document regarding Norway's participation in the Drone Coalition. Photo credits: Norwegian Ministry of Defense Norway has joined an international coalition of drones to support Ukraine.

The Norwegian Ministry of Defense reported this on its X social media page. Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Onshuus Sandvik signed the relevant document on participation. Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds also attended the signing.

Norway's signing of this agreement increased the number of participating countries to 18 and expanded financial capabilities for ordering, manufacturing, and delivering drones.

Latvian Ardlat FPV drone. Latvia. Source: Ardlat Company

In total, the coalition united the following countries: Australia, Great Britain, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Poland, France, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Ukraine, and now Norway.

The Coalition was formed and started functioning on February 14, 2024. Latvia proposed the initiative, which was coordinated jointly with the United Kingdom. Already in the same year, the participating countries were able to raise EUR1.8 billion, of which Latvia allocated EUR20 million.

As it was reported in December 2024, British Deputy Defense Secretary Luke Pollard said that the delivery of drones within the drone coalition was to begin in January 2025.

FPV drones from Vinnytsia for the 3rd Assault Brigade. September 2024. Photo credits: Interregional Humanitarian Coordination Center

It is worth noting that Ukrainian drone companies were the second largest in terms of the number of applications submitted in the second series of tenders announced by the UK as part of the Drone Coalition.

Militarnyi previously reported that German company Helsing will produce 6,000 HX-2 strike drones for the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

This order follows a preliminary order for 4,000 HF-1 strike drones, which are currently being delivered to Ukraine in partnership with the Ukrainian industry.

Presented in late 2024, HX-2 is an electrically propelled X-wing precision munition with up to 100 km range.