Today, a partnership agreement was signed between Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) and KONGSBERG as a strategic partner in the Mime Combat ICT program for the Armed Forces. Combat ICT is a term used for ICT solutions that support mobile operational activities in the Armed Forces.
According to the agreement, KONGSBERG will be responsible for ICT service and system integration, to include program support and architecture. This agreement will consist of several regulatory sub-agreements. KONGSBERG may also supply products and solutions to the Mime Program depending on procurement regulations and the market situation for the products to be procured.
«We have a close, good and long-standing collaboration with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, and through this agreement we will establish a structure for a strategic partnership during times of peace, crisis and war,” says Gro Jære, Director, NDMA.
The partnership agreement will contribute in achieving the goals set in Cooperation for Security — Meld. St. 17 (2020–2021) Report to the Storting, as well as strengthening small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), including domestic businesses that are not traditionally a part of the defence industry. The parties will actively contribute to achieve the set objectives.
“With this agreement, KDA will be responsible for developing comprehensive ICT solutions for the Armed Forces. The agreement also allows KDA to create good cooperation arenas for small and medium-sized suppliers who together will create the solutions the Armed Forces demand,” says Jære.
“For KONGSBERG, this agreement is an increased opportunity to use the breadth of our experience. We look forward to contributing with innovation, system integration and deliveries,” says Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. “We are proud to have been chosen as a strategic partner in combat ICT and to be entrusted with the responsibility to ensure the entire ecosystem of suppliers work together as a team to develop the best and most modern solutions for the Norwegian Armed Forces,” says Lie.
The partnership will gradually develop where the intention is that over time, the strategic partner will become more involved in the overall responsibility for Combat ICT. At the same time, KONGSBERG must further develop and strengthen the ecosystem of suppliers that meet the needs of the Armed Forces in a way that technological cutting-edge expertise will benefit the domestic defence sector.