Norway has accelerated the purchase of 155-mm artillery ammunition for the needs of its own army.

This decision is conditioned by the Russian-Ukrainian war, where artillery ammunition is used in large quantities every day.

In December, Norway’s National Defense Materiel Agency (NDMA) signed a contract with a local company Nammo to supply the Armed Forces with 155mm NM269 artillery rounds for the next several years.

These munitions have a range of more than 40 kilometers.

NM269 will further reveal the potential of the K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers, increasing the ability to hit targets at a long distance.

“This type of artillery munition has a longer range and higher accuracy than older munitions, giving the Army increased firepower,” said Thomas Beck, head of the Land Systems Division at NDMA.

Deliveries of new ammunition will begin in 2023.

The new rounds have been developed by Nammo in cooperation with the National Defense Materiel Agency in recent years.

It is emphasized that the 155-mm caliber ammunition weighs more than 40 kg and is safer for the military during use and transportation, if compared with the shells of previous generations.

The Norwegian Defense Materials Agency was tasked with concluding a contract with Nammo by the summer of this year for the rapid delivery of new artillery ammunition and the rapid procurement of raw materials for their production.

In November of this year, it became known that the Armed Forces of Norway were purchasing four K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers from South Korea. New weapons are needed to increase the capabilities of artillery units and the country’s defense capability.

This order is an option to the original contract that was signed in December 2017 between Hanwha and NDMA for the supply of 24 K9 self-propelled howitzers and 6 K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicles.