Norway to help fund Germany supply Patriots to Ukraine

Norway will provide financial support to Germany to the amount of €590 million ($690 million) for the joint supply of two Patriot missile systems plus missiles to Ukraine, the Norwegian government announced on Sunday.

Norway will also contribute to the purchase of anti-aircraft radar systems made by the German company Hensoldt and anti-aircraft systems made by the Norwegian company Kongsberg.

"Together with Germany, we are now ensuring that Ukraine receives powerful air defence systems. Germany and Norway are working very closely together to support Ukraine in its fight to defend the country and protect the civilian population against Russian air attacks," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre wrote.

In July, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Støre agreed at a meeting in Berlin to jointly finance boosting Ukrainian air defences.

At the beginning of August, the German government said that delivery of the Patriot systems could begin after the US manufacturers agreed to supply replacements as quickly as possible to allow Germany to meet its NATO commitments.

The original plan had been to order two Patriot systems directly from the United States for delivery to Ukraine at a cost of around €1 billion each.

As they were not immediately available, Germany is to provide two of its nine systems and receive replacements from the US later.

Patriots are effective in countering tactical ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.