The Norwegian government has contributed a financial package to strengthen air defense and purchase 100 anti-aircraft missiles for Patriot systems.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway reported on this.

The total financial package that the country has allocated within the German Air Defense Initiative is €240 million.

Part of these funds, namely €125 million, will be allocated for the joint procurement of MIM-104 anti-aircraft guided missiles. Another part of the funds will be used for future procurements under the German Air Defense Initiative.

The procurement will be carried out jointly with Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands, which also made a financial contribution to this purchase.

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that they are currently seeking to transfer missiles to Ukraine as soon as possible, which will enhance their ability to intercept air and ballistic targets.

The purchase of the missiles comes as the Netherlands prepares to provide Ukraine with additional launchers and radars for the Patriot SAM system.

Last month, it was reported that the United States is considering providing Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defense system to support Europe’s efforts to provide Ukraine with a sufficient number of air defense systems.

Germany also announced the transfer of the Patriot air defense system battery in April 2024.

Militarnyi previously reported that Italy will provide Ukraine with a military aid package to strengthen its air defense.

In particular, this concerns the transfer of an additional battery of the SAMP/T air defense system, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.

This battery is to be the second for the Ukrainian army. In early 2023, Italy and France jointly assembled a battery from their own components and transferred it to Ukraine to protect cities and industrial facilities from numerous Russian missile attacks.