Kongsberg Gruppen POLITICAL

Target: Kongsberg Gruppen ASA Evidence reviewed: Public corporate disclosures, dated company announcements, independent reporting, judicial material, and published institutional records through 25 October 2026. Scope: Corporate communications, Israel-Palestine-related political and civil-society activity, territorial operations, internal governance, public partnerships, lobbying and financing, ownership, and executive conduct.

Corporate Communications & Public Stance

Official communications concerning Israel-Palestine

On 5 July 2024, Norwegian labour-sector publication FriFagbevegelse reported Kongsberg Gruppen’s response to questions concerning F-35 aircraft used by Israel. Communications director Ronny Lie stated that the company was subject to Norwegian export rules, referred questions concerning exports from the United States to US authorities, and said that Kongsberg had never sold weapons to Israel.¹

In a 22 September 2023 announcement, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace described its NOK 1.2 billion F-35 component contract with Lockheed Martin as an extension of its longstanding participation in the aircraft programme. The announcement identified aircraft components, production lots, production volumes and anticipated delivery dates without identifying Israel as an end customer.²

On 18 March 2026, Kongsberg announced another F-35 component agreement with Lockheed Martin, with an expected value of NOK 2 billion and production continuing through 2030. The announcement referred to the global F-35 programme and all three aircraft variants without identifying the national end users of individual components.³

Comparative public communications

On 9 February 2024, Kongsberg publicised Norway’s intention to purchase additional NASAMS equipment for donation to Ukraine, including ten launch units and four fire-control centres. The announcement quoted Norwegian Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram concerning civilian protection and Russia’s missile and drone attacks.⁴

In an April 2025 corporate interview discussing the 2024 annual report, Kongsberg described its contribution to Ukrainian defence, including NASAMS air-defence systems, counter-drone capabilities, F-16 work and training. The interview stated that deliveries to Ukraine helped protect people and infrastructure.⁵

In a 2025 article on integrated air defence, Kongsberg described NASAMS as protecting Ukrainian civilians from attacks and reported that the system had intercepted more than 900 missiles and drones. Eirik Lie linked the programme to the protection of civilian populations, peace, stability and national sovereignty.⁶

On 22 June 2025, Kongsberg announced agreements with Ukrainian industrial partners covering air-defence missiles and unmanned surface vessels, alongside the establishment of a permanent Kyiv office. The announcement referred to support from Norwegian authorities and the urgency of strengthening Ukrainian defensive capabilities.⁷

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence independently reported a 16 January 2025 meeting between Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and Eirik Lie concerning NASAMS integration, anti-drone capabilities, possible Ukrainian production and maritime defence cooperation.⁸

Statements specifically addressing Palestinian civilian protection: no public evidence identified in the reviewed corporate statements.^{1, 4, 5, 6, 7}

Market framing

Kongsberg describes itself as an international technology business serving defence, security and surveillance markets and protecting critical infrastructure. Its corporate description connects these activities to commercial technology development and industrial capability.⁹

The company’s March 2024 announcement concerning missile production described military demand in terms of European security, defence preparedness, supply-chain resilience and increased industrial capacity. It recorded a planned NOK 640 million investment, including NOK 200 million in Norwegian public support and EUR 10 million in EU funding.¹⁰

On 19 September 2026, Universitas reported Kongsberg Gruppen communications director Ivar Simensen’s emailed response to Palestinian-solidarity protests concerning the company’s participation alongside Nammo in a University of Oslo physics career event. Addressing Kongsberg’s supply of aircraft components to Lockheed Martin for the F-35 programme, Simensen stated that the components supplied by Kongsberg had no independent function, that exports between Norway and the United States were subject to Norwegian export regulations, and that subsequent exports from the United States followed American regulations. His response distinguished Kongsberg’s component manufacturing and Norwegian export-control obligations from subsequent American export decisions. The statement was made in response to controversy over components incorporated into F-35 aircraft operated by Israel. It documents the company’s September 2026 public explanation of its supply-chain and regulatory position without independently establishing the destination of particular components or determining legal responsibility for subsequent exports.¹¹

Operations in Occupied or Contested Territories

F-35 programme and indirect supply-chain exposure

Kongsberg’s 22 September 2023 announcement established an agreement to produce rudders, vertical leading edges and main landing gear closeout panels for F-35 production lots 18–19, covering more than 300 aircraft. Deliveries were scheduled to start in 2025 and continue through 2027.²

A subsequent agreement announced on 18 March 2026 extended production to F-35 lots 20–22, covering the same categories of components for all three aircraft variants and extending Kongsberg’s production programme through 2030.³

FriFagbevegelse reported on 5 July 2024 that Lockheed Martin had confirmed Norwegian components were present in all F-35 aircraft, including those operated by Israel. The publication identified Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace among the Norwegian companies producing aircraft components and separately recorded Kongsberg’s denial of direct weapons sales to Israel.¹

The same investigation identified Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services as a participant in the F-35 industrial programme and described maintenance and spare-parts activities associated with Norwegian F-35 operations.¹

On 30 September 2021, Kongsberg announced that Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services had signed agreements worth NOK 122 million to produce and assemble horizontal and vertical tails for more than 50 F-35 aircraft. The announced production period extended through 2025.¹²

Historical programme development

[pre-2020] On 31 August 2010, Kongsberg announced a NOK 270 million agreement with Lockheed Martin for composite and titanium F-35 rudder components for 62 carrier-variant aircraft. The announcement referred to a framework agreement signed in 2008. The specific 2010 contract’s current status is not established, while Kongsberg’s broader F-35 production relationship is confirmed as ongoing through its 2026 announcement.^{13, 3}

Identifiable Israeli end-user allocation

The reviewed 2023 and 2026 Lockheed Martin contracts establish Kongsberg’s role as a component manufacturer, but their published descriptions do not identify Israeli aircraft serial numbers, individual destination shipments or the allocation of Kongsberg-manufactured components to particular Israeli F-35 production or maintenance orders.^{2, 3}

Facilities and settlement operations

No public evidence identified of a Kongsberg Gruppen-owned facility, settlement-based distributor, named settlement customer, territorial infrastructure contract or locally identified maintenance operation in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem or occupied Syrian Golan in the reviewed corporate and independent reporting.^{1, 9}

Legal and regulatory scrutiny

On 12 February 2024, the Hague Court of Appeal announced an order requiring the Dutch state to stop exports of F-35 components from the Netherlands to Israel. The court referred to the risk that F-35 aircraft could be used in serious violations of international humanitarian law. The proceedings concerned Dutch export authorisations and did not identify Kongsberg Gruppen as a defendant.¹⁴

Company-specific settlement database listing: no public evidence identified in the sources verified for this audit.^{1, 9}

Company-specific judicial finding of unlawful exports to Israel: no public evidence identified in the reviewed Kongsberg-related documents; the identified Dutch F-35 proceedings concerned the Dutch state.^{1, 14}

Civil-society campaigns and protests

On 5 January 2024, Metal Supply reported a Palestinian-solidarity demonstration at Oslo’s Munch museum, where Kongsberg was holding a seminar. Protesters connected their action to the company’s involvement in the F-35 programme and Israeli operations in Gaza.¹⁵

The same report described an earlier disruption of a Kongsberg-associated employee event in December 2023. It quoted communications director Ronny Lie as recognising freedom of expression while saying that lawful democratic channels were preferable to disrupting employee events.¹⁵

On 5 September 2025, Metal Supply reported that protesters from Palestinakomiteen had blocked the main entrance to a Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace facility. The protest focused on component deliveries to Lockheed Martin and the use of F-35 aircraft in the Israel-Gaza conflict.¹⁶

On 15 September 2025, Khrono reported that pro-Palestinian academic groups at NTNU had challenged the university’s relationship with Kongsberg and cited student work they considered relevant to weapons development. The university rector disputed their accusation that he had misinformed the university board.¹⁷

Internal Governance, Content & Retail Policies

Employee relations and political expression

Kongsberg’s reported response to the December 2023 employee-event disruption addressed the conduct of external demonstrators and acknowledged freedom of expression. The reported statement concerned disruption of a company-associated event and did not establish disciplinary action against Kongsberg employees.¹⁵

Dismissal, discipline or workplace sanctions against employees for Palestinian advocacy: no public evidence identified in the reviewed reporting.^{1, 15, 16}

Union lawsuits, employee speech restrictions or political-symbol enforcement concerning Israel-Palestine: no public evidence identified.^{1, 15, 16}

Platform and editorial policy

Kongsberg identifies its activities as defence, security, surveillance and industrial technology. The reviewed company materials do not establish that the group operates a consumer social-media or public editorial platform with Israel-Palestine-specific content moderation responsibilities.⁹

Algorithmic suppression, political-content moderation asymmetry or Gaza-related editorial intervention: no public evidence identified.⁹

Retail and supply-chain practices

Kongsberg’s September 2023 and March 2026 F-35 announcements concern industrial component manufacturing and delivery to Lockheed Martin. They do not describe consumer retail distribution, settlement-origin product labelling or territory-specific product categorisation.^{2, 3}

Mislabelled settlement goods, settlement-origin sourcing violations or consumer retail classification disputes: no public evidence identified.⁹

Academic governance controversy

On 15 September 2025, Universitetsavisa reported that Academic Network for Palestine and Students for Palestine in Trondheim had challenged statements made by NTNU rector Tor Grande about the university’s cooperation with Kongsberg. The groups referred to historical student projects that, in their view, demonstrated links to weapons-related research.¹⁸

Khrono reported the rector’s rejection of the accusation that he had misinformed the board. The published dispute identifies competing positions concerning academic collaboration; it does not establish an adverse judicial or regulatory decision against Kongsberg.¹⁷

Brand Heritage & State Partnerships

Military heritage and branding

[pre-2020] Kongsberg’s 20 March 2014 bicentenary announcement traced its origins to the Kongsberg weapons factory, established by Poul Steenstrup in 1814. The announcement explicitly connected the original enterprise to Norway’s development of a domestic defence industry. This historical relationship is confirmed as continuing in the group’s contemporary defence-business activities.^{19, 9}

Kongsberg currently presents defence systems, missile technology, security and surveillance as principal parts of its industrial identity. The company’s corporate materials describe its work in relation to the defence of people and critical infrastructure.⁹

Norwegian state partnerships

On 15 March 2024, Kongsberg announced investments to expand missile and sensor-component production, supported by the Norwegian government and the European Union’s Act in Support of Ammunition Production programme. The company described the objective as increasing production capacity and strengthening supply resilience.¹⁰

On 9 May 2025, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace announced a cooperation agreement with BAE Systems concerning maritime and defence requirements in Norway, the United Kingdom and other allied countries. The signing occurred aboard HMS St Albans in Oslo, and the stated prospective areas included naval systems, missiles and through-life defence support.²⁰

On 22 June 2025, the company announced the opening of a Kyiv office and industrial cooperation agreements with Ukrainian partners. Norwegian and Ukrainian defence ministers participated in the associated events.⁷

Academic partnerships

Reporting in September 2025 documented an existing collaboration between Kongsberg and NTNU and a disagreement over the military relevance of associated academic projects.^{17, 18}

Israeli state honours, government-sponsored cultural campaigns or Brand Israel sponsorships: no public evidence identified in the reviewed corporate and independent sources.^{9, 20}

Settlement-oriented institutional sponsorship: no public evidence identified.⁹

On 2 June 2026, Universitas reported that a cooperation agreement concluded in late summer 2025 between Kongsberg Gruppen and the University of Oslo’s Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences granted Kongsberg the right to describe itself as a faculty cooperation partner in connection with the Ignite programme, together with physical and digital promotional exposure. Universitas stated that it had examined the agreement directly. In exchange, Kongsberg undertook to pay Ignite NOK 150,000 over one year. The agreement initially ran through June 2026 and contained an extension clause, although the faculty told Universitas that renewal remained undecided. The agreement also required the faculty to establish an advisory board concerned with Ignite’s long-term strategy and direction, granting Kongsberg at least one seat. Students for Palestine leader Mio Moen criticised the arrangement as normalising the defence industry and giving Kongsberg influence over student activities. University management responded that the advisory body was consultative and did not oblige the university to follow partners’ recommendations. The documented contractual rights establish institutional branding, promotional access and advisory participation, while the reporting does not establish that Kongsberg exercised decision-making authority over university policy.²¹

Lobbying, Advocacy, Financing & Logistics

Public-policy and export-control engagement

FriFagbevegelse’s 5 July 2024 investigation recorded Kongsberg’s position that it operated under Norwegian export regulations and that questions concerning exports from the United States should be directed to American authorities.¹

Kongsberg’s current executive leadership structure includes a Government Relations & Communication function headed by Anne Marie Aanerud. The company identifies this function within its corporate management team.²²

Lobbying specifically concerning Israel, Palestinian rights, BDS legislation or settlement policy: no public evidence identified in the reviewed disclosures and reporting.^{1, 22}

Political contributions and corporate financing

The company’s reviewed announcements establish payments received under defence-industrial supply agreements and public support for industrial capacity, including the September 2023 NOK 1.2 billion F-35 agreement, the March 2026 expected NOK 2 billion F-35 agreement and the March 2024 missile-capacity investment programme.^{2, 3, 10}

These announcements concern commercial contracts and industrial funding; they do not identify donations by Kongsberg to Israeli military-welfare bodies, settlement organisations or political advocacy groups.^{2, 3, 10}

Corporate donations to the IDF, FIDF, JNF/KKL, Lev Echad, Israeli reservist funds, Regavim, Im Tirtzu or settlement organisations: no public evidence identified.^{1, 9}

Employee donation matching or corporate charitable matching for Israeli military-associated entities: no public evidence identified.⁹

Crisis asset mobilisation

Kongsberg publicly reported the prospective supply of additional NASAMS equipment intended for Ukrainian defence in February 2024 and further Ukrainian defence-industrial partnerships in June 2025.^{4, 7}

Provision of free equipment, logistics, transportation, digital services or infrastructure specifically to Israeli armed forces or settlement organisations during the Gaza conflict: no public evidence identified beyond the separately documented multinational F-35 component supply-chain issue.^{1, 2, 3}

Post-July 2024 and post-November 2024 continuity

Kongsberg’s 22 September 2023 F-35 agreement contemplated production and deliveries through 2027, and the 18 March 2026 agreement extended its component production programme through 2030. Both periods extend beyond 19 July 2024 and November 2024.^{2, 3}

Palestinian-solidarity protests focusing on this industrial relationship were reported in January 2024 and September 2025, demonstrating continued public controversy during the same period.^{15, 16}

Corporate Structure & Primary Mission

Ownership and state control

Kongsberg’s 2025 annual report identifies the Norwegian state, represented by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, as the group’s largest shareholder, with 50.004% of the shares as of 31 December 2025.²³

The company’s corporate-governance disclosure independently describes the Norwegian state as its largest shareholder and identifies expectations associated with state ownership and Norwegian corporate-governance standards.²⁴

The 2025 annual report records the Norwegian Ministry of Defence as an important customer and reports NOK 3,916 million invoiced to Norwegian state customers during 2025.²³

Industrial mission

Kongsberg describes its operating activities in terms of defence systems, missiles, surveillance, security and other advanced technologies serving governmental and industrial customers.⁹

Its 2025 annual report presents the group as a listed commercial enterprise, with financial reporting, shareholder ownership, corporate governance and related-party disclosures. The state is both a controlling shareholder and a defence customer.²³

Defence-industrial lineage

[pre-2020] The company’s documented historical origin is the Norwegian weapons factory established in 1814. The original activity was associated with Norwegian defence and industrial development. Its present commercial defence activity is confirmed by the company’s current corporate description.^{19, 9}

Relevant subsidiary ownership

On 30 September 2021, Kongsberg described Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services as 50.1%-owned by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, with the remaining 49.9% owned by Patria of Finland. The referenced announcement establishes the disclosed ownership position at that date, while the current percentage requires separate verification.¹²

Israeli state ownership or a specific constitutional mandate to advance Israeli geopolitical objectives: no public evidence identified in the reviewed ownership and corporate-governance disclosures.^{23, 24}

Executive & Leadership Footprint

Current executive leadership

Kongsberg’s current management page identifies Eirik Lie as President and CEO, Anne Marie Aanerud as responsible for Government Relations & Communication, Christian Karde as responsible for Legal & Compliance, and Martin Wien Fjell as responsible for Finance.²²

The company’s board page identifies Eivind Reiten as chair and lists Merete Hverven, Morten Henriksen, Marianne Wiinholt and Pål Eitrheim among its board members.²⁵

Historical leadership context

Kongsberg’s 2025 annual report names Geir Håøy as President and CEO during the 2025 reporting period and Eirik Lie as President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, reflecting the earlier executive configuration.²³

In the 22 September 2023 F-35 announcement, Eirik Lie publicly welcomed the Lockheed Martin agreement and emphasised Kongsberg’s longstanding position in the programme. The agreement covered aircraft production and scheduled deliveries through 2027.²

In the 18 March 2026 F-35 announcement, Kongsberg reported continued industrial partnership with Lockheed Martin and component production extending through 2030.³

Statements on other conflicts

In a 2025 corporate article, Eirik Lie described NASAMS as protecting Ukrainian civilians and linked defence-industrial cooperation to peace, stability and national sovereignty.⁶

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence reported that Eirik Lie met Rustem Umerov on 16 January 2025 to discuss Ukrainian air defence, anti-drone systems and maritime capabilities.⁸

On 22 June 2025, Kongsberg published statements by Eirik Lie concerning missile development and maritime capabilities intended to support Ukraine’s defence.⁷

Public personal statements specifically concerning Palestinian civilians, Israeli settlement policy or the Gaza conflict: no public evidence identified in the reviewed executive profiles and corporate statements.^{2, 6, 7, 22}

Personal philanthropy

No public evidence identified of donations by the named executives or directors to the IDF, FIDF, JNF/KKL, Israeli reservist-support bodies, settlement organisations or Israel-Palestine-related political advocacy organisations.^{22, 25}

Personal investment holdings

No public evidence identified of an Israel-related defence, surveillance or settlement-company investment by the named executives or directors that can be attributed to a controlling principal of Kongsberg Gruppen.^{22, 25}

Board memberships and affiliations

The corporate website identifies the current leadership and board composition but does not establish the named executives’ or directors’ membership of AIPAC, CFI, FIDF, Regavim, Im Tirtzu or comparable organisations.^{22, 25}

Executive participation in pro-Israel fundraising, settlement events, military-support campaigns or anti-BDS lobbying: no public evidence identified.^{22, 25}