Norway has decided to make a major move to increase its military strength. The country is planning to buy 24 more K9 Thunder howitzers. These are large, powerful guns that can move on their own and fire shells over long distances. Norway already has 28 of these K9 howitzers, and this new order will almost double the number.
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The cost of this new purchase is expected to be about 5.65 billion Norwegian kroner. That is around $534 million in U.S. dollars. These howitzers are made by Hanwha Aerospace, a company based in South Korea. The new guns will be used to form a new artillery battalion. This battalion will be a part of the Finnmark brigade, a military unit that is being created to protect Norway’s northern regions, especially the areas close to the Arctic.
The government shared this plan in a new proposal. It includes not just the cost of the howitzers, but also money for spare parts and support equipment. The proposal must still be approved by the Norwegian parliament, which is called the Storting.
Why Norway Is Making This Big Military Purchase
According to the Minister of Defense, Tore Sandvik, Norway is in a serious security situation. Because of this, the government wants to make big investments in its armed forces. This plan to buy more howitzers is just one part of a larger defense spending package worth 17 billion kroner.
This package includes other military needs too. For example, it will fund new trucks for the army, improvements to military facilities, and more tools for the navy to clear sea mines. These are all being done to make sure the country is ready to defend itself if needed.
Norway’s 28 current K9 howitzers and 14 K10 vehicles for supplying ammunition were purchased earlier. The country had included an option in the earlier deal with Hanwha to buy more howitzers in the future. Now, Norway is using that option to get the additional 24 guns.
Once these new howitzers are added, Norway’s total budget for its 155 mm artillery program will go up to 11.1 billion kroner. The K9 howitzer is a type of 155 mm artillery, which means it fires shells that are 155 millimeters in diameter. These are very powerful weapons, and they play a big role in modern land warfare.
Countries near Norway also use the K9 howitzers. Poland, Finland, and Estonia are some of the other countries in the Baltic region that have bought these same guns.
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Sea Mine-Clearing and New Navy Equipment
Another large part of this spending plan focuses on protecting the sea. Norway is planning to spend an extra 3.9 billion kroner on its project to clear sea mines. That brings the total budget for this mine-clearing program to 8.74 billion kroner.
The goal is to make sure that the Norwegian Navy can keep its waters safe. Sea mines are dangerous explosives that float or rest underwater and can destroy ships. They are a serious threat during wartime. Norway wants to be sure that its ships, and the ships of its allies, can move freely and safely in the ocean, even if there is a conflict.
This mine-clearing program began in 2023. At first, the plan was smaller, but after reviewing the risks, the government decided that more tools and resources were needed. The new plan will include modern technologies like unmanned and autonomous systems. These are machines that can operate on their own without needing a person inside. They can search for and remove sea mines in a safer and faster way.
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According to the government, this upgrade is important to protect important underwater structures too, such as communication cables and energy pipelines. Defense Minister Sandvik said this plan would help to keep Norway’s waters open and safe during emergencies.
All of these defense efforts are part of a larger increase in Norway’s military budget. Back in October of last year, the government had already proposed to raise the defense budget for 2025 by 19.2 billion kroner, bringing it to a total of 110.1 billion kroner.
The new spending plans reflect Norway’s focus on building a stronger defense in response to changes in the world around it. The decisions include more powerful weapons for the army, better tools for the navy, and improved support systems to keep everything running smoothly. All of these actions are designed to make sure Norway is ready to protect its land and sea.
