Norwegian Armed Forces Award Nammo New Major Small Arms Ammunition Contract

The Norwegian Armed Forces recently announced that it has selected Nammo as the main supplier of lead-free small arms ammunition, a contract worth half a billion Norwegian Kroner*, plus options. 


“We are proud to supply world class ammunition that is both environmental friendly and fully satisfies the customer’s demands for operational function,” says Edgar Fossheim, President and CEO of Nammo.

In conjunction with the Norwegian Armed Forces and the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, Nammo has developed a new, improved lead-free ammunition that will be used among others, in the Norwegian Armed Forces’ automatic rifle, the HK416. The contract value is almost half a billion NOK for the initial delivery, and includes options for further 700 million NOK. The contract is multi-annual and production will be carried out at Nammo’s production facilities in Karlsborg, Sweden.

FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SOLDIER AND THE ENVIRONMENT
The new type of ammunition, NM255, emits lower levels of suspended dust particles and exhausts gases and, most importantly, does not expose the gunner to harmful lead gases. “We have developed new, improved lead-free ammunition of world class quality. For Nammo, it is important to be at the forefront of future environmental requirements and to develop products that are less harmful to the health of the users, and cause less damage to the environment,” says Peter Ambjörnsson, President of Nammo Vanäsverken in Karlsborg. 

The development of this new ammunition began shortly after the first report on health complaints appeared towards the end of 2008. Usually, development of new defense products can take up to ten years, whereas it has taken one third of this time to produce the new ammunition. “Norwegian politicians and chief of defense have been behind the sensible initiative to replace lead ammunition, to the benefit of the soldiers and the environment. We have been highly motivated by this initiative and it has also meant that we have succeeded in developing the new version of the ammunition in record time,” says Ambjörnsson. 

AIMING ABROAD
Increasingly more countries have realized that a transition to lead-free ammunition is necessary and this is reinforced by the fact that more stringent environmental requirements are imminent. “We therefore see a huge potential in our newly developed lead-free ammunition. The new contract with the Norwegian Armed Forces, a respected ally, will strengthen our position and increase our opportunity for sales to other markets,” says Edgar Fossheim.