On Friday, April 4, 2025, Norway’s Labour Party government announced that it had authorized the Ministry of Defence to implement an investment and technical modernization plan for the armed forces worth 17 billion NOK, of which 10 billion NOK will be allocated to new programs, and 7 billion NOK to the expansion of existing ones. The plan still requires approval from the Norwegian parliament (Storting).
K9 VIDAR / Photo: Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Norway
The first acquisition involves the procurement of an additional 24 K9 VIDAR (Versatile InDirect ARtillery) 155 mm/L52 self-propelled howitzers, a local version of the South Korean K9A1 Thunder produced by Hanwha Aerospace. The purchase is estimated at 5.65 billion NOK (K9A1 Thunder in Poland’s 15th Giżycko Mechanized Brigade).
The decision to acquire more howitzers, which will join the 28 already in service, stems from conclusions presented in the document Investments in the Armed Forces and Other Matters (Investeringer i Forsvaret og andre saker). Interestingly, this is part of the implementation of an annex to the original agreement signed in 2017.
This means that a total of 52 K9 VIDAR howitzers will be operated by the Norwegian Army (Hæren).
“We are facing a serious security policy situation. That is why we will now ask the Storting to approve significant investments in various parts of the Armed Forces to strengthen Norway’s defense capability, in line with the ambitions of the long-term plan presented last year. All in all, these are important investments in our shared security and safety,” said Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik (Labour Party).
Therefore, the government is proposing equipment for the new artillery battalion of the expanding Finnmark Brigade, as well as additional mine countermeasure systems (a total of 8.7 billion NOK — increased by 3.9 billion NOK), along with additional funding for the modernization of housing infrastructure for officers at Ørland Air Base and the construction of 250 new housing units in Sørland (713 million NOK).
“We must ensure that the Armed Forces have the resources they need to detect and neutralize mines or other explosive devices underwater. This will help ensure that our own vessels and those of our allies can sail safely and freely in Norwegian waters. In addition, it can help secure critical underwater infrastructure,” noted Minister Sandvik.
On December 20, 2017, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (Forsvarsmateriell, FMA) signed a contract with then-Hanwha Defense (now Hanwha Aerospace) worth 1.8 billion NOK for the delivery of 24 K9 VIDAR howitzers and 6 K10 ARV (Ammunition Resupply Vehicle) support vehicles. The contract was fulfilled in 2021. An annex to the agreement included the option to purchase an additional 24 howitzers and an undisclosed number of support vehicles. On November 7, 2022, a supplementary contract worth over 1 billion NOK was signed for the delivery of 4 K9 VIDAR howitzers and 8 K10 vehicles. This delivery was completed earlier this year.
Support for the K9 VIDAR and K10 ARV systems is provided by a technical maintenance center in Bjerkvik, located in Nordland County. Hanwha has supplied the center with test equipment, training materials, and the necessary technical expertise. The facility is also capable of servicing similar artillery systems used by other countries in the region, such as Finland and Estonia. The Norwegian industrial partner for the program is Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace (KDA).
The K9 VIDAR is a variant of the modernized K9A1 Thunder, equipped with the Norwegian ODIN fire control system in place of the BTCS, the MARIA battle management system (BMS class) from Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace (KDA), and Norwegian NATO-standard communication systems. It was introduced into service with the Norwegian Royal Artillery Battalion (Artilleribataljonen) after the planned procurement of Swedish wheeled Archer howitzers – FH77BW L52 – was canceled in 2013.
The Korean howitzers replaced 18 M109A3GN 155 mm self-propelled howitzers. These were upgraded M109G models, a total of 126 of which were purchased from West Germany between 1969 and 1971. In 2022, 22 of these howitzers (including some previously stored) were sent to Ukraine as part of Norway’s military aid in response to the war with Russia.
The Norwegian military plans to complement its self-propelled howitzers with new multiple launch rocket systems. Currently under consideration are the American M142 HIMARS and the Israeli PULS. Previously, between 1999 and 2005, Norway operated 12 heavy M270 MLRS launchers, ordered from the United States for 1.5 billion NOK. Following the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Oslo decided to support the United Kingdom’s military aid to Kyiv by contributing its own decommissioned systems. On June 29, 2022, Norway announced the transfer of three retired M270 launchers to London, followed by another eight on May 13, 2023 (one remaining launcher was retained in the country as a museum exhibit).
