To succeed abroad, Norwegian companies depend largely on industrial cooperation agreements that bind foreign suppliers to Norwegian partners. These agreements have long been a cornerstone of national defense industry development, as Norway continues to import most of its materiel. With 80 percent of industry turnover coming from international markets, the Norwegian defense sector must be competitive globally.
Shipbuilder Umoe Mandal has successfully transformed into a pure defense company, focused entirely on maritime systems, composite structures and military platforms.
CEO Tom Fidjeland puts it bluntly: “A job has to be maritime, in composites and military. Otherwise, we’re not interested.”
Umoe Mandal’s niche expertise is world class and customers are generally foreign. The domestic market is simply too small. The company’s future depends on securing international contracts and being plugged into major programs through industrial cooperation agreements.
Kitron adds another layer to this picture. With half its turnover in defense and operations across several countries, Kitron shows how Norwegian competence can anchor international supply chains. Their recent work supporting Ukraine highlights the importance of scaling and mass production, capabilities Norway has not yet fully tested at home.
“Another challenge for Norway is to prioritize in situations when supply chains cannot sufficiently serve all parties. In such cases, commercial interests often trumphs societal needs,” said Hans Petter Thomassen, VP Nordics and North America at Kitron.
Kitron and Umoe Mandal discussed these matters during an Arendalsuka event organized by Fremtidens Forsvarsindustri Sør (FFS), Agder County, GCE NODE, and Digin.
