Norway has decided against using drones to monitor Russia's activities in the Arctic
Norway has unveiled an updated long-term defense plan for 2025–2036, which calls for nearly $12 billion in additional funding as well as a review of some defense programs. One of the key decisions was to cancel the project to procure long-range drones for maritime reconnaissance in the Far North.
This is reported by Breaking Defense.
The decision to abandon the drones is planned to be offset by cooperation with the United Kingdom in the field of unmanned systems, as well as the use of space technologies for surveillance.
Previously, Norway had considered purchasing drones to monitor Russian activity in the Arctic. Such aircraft were intended to provide long-term surveillance of large territories under challenging climatic conditions.
Among the potential options was the MQ-4C Triton drone from Northrop Grumman. However, according to experts, this option may have been rejected due to its high cost, which reaches hundreds of millions of dollars per unit.
Despite the decision not to proceed with the purchase, Norway is not abandoning the development of drone technology. In particular, in early 2026, Shield AI demonstrated the capabilities of its V-BAT drones during exercises in the country, proving their effectiveness in Arctic conditions.
In addition, Oslo is strengthening cooperation with European partners. Notably, Denmark has already purchased MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, with deliveries expected in 2028–2029.
Thus, Norway is betting on a combined approach—international cooperation and cutting-edge technology—rather than costly individual procurements.
Earlier, British Defense Minister John Healey officially confirmed plans to radically strengthen the UK’s military presence in the Far North.
