Posted on 01/18/2006 7:04:41 AM PST by Kurt_Hectic
Norway's peacekeeping profile stands in stark contrast to its success as a weapons exporter. New figures show that Norway is the world's biggest arms exporter in relation to its population.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) figures reveal Norway as a leading arms exporter, with its industry enjoying strong growth.
"The Socialist Left Party's disarmament profile has been pulverized by the Norwegian arms industry and LO (The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions). An increasing share of Norwegian weapon production is being used in war situations, the export to the USA is colossal," reports financial magazine Økonomisk Rapport.
In five years turnover has increased by 30 percent and the industry sells for NOK 7 billion (USD 1.05 billion) a year and employs around 5,000 people.
According to figures from SIPRI, Norway is the world's biggest arms exporter in relation to its population and the 11th in the world in real terms.
"We have a good relationship with LO, and the Labor Party understands the industry well," said Knut Hundhammer, managing director of the Norwegian Defense and Security Industries Association (FSi).
Related stories: Halvorsen drops Boeing - 05.01.2006 State increases stake in weapons - 24.11.2005
http://www.kongsberg.com/eng/KDA/
http://www.nammo.com/
Harhar, couldn't resist!
Well, Lapua products are among the very best, but that subsidiary of theirs is Finnish.
Good but in stark constrast to the countries left leanings.
How do they morally rectify their idea for peace vs. suppling arms for warfare?
Btw where in Norway is your family from. I have a dear friend that lives in Tonsberg and have visited this beautiful country several times.
It appears that it is primarily munitions, not arms that are being produced. See below
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Database of Small Arms Production and Transfers Path: Europe : North Europe : Norway : Industry and Products |
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Norwegian Small Arms Industry & Products Norwegian defense industry is niche-based, with high competence and advanced production capacities in communication, control and information systems; in missile technologies; and in high explosives. Norwegian arms production is concentrated on licensed production of major weapons systems components for the Norwegian armed forces. In 1992, 10,000 people were employed in Norway in the arms industries. Since January 1996, Norwegian arms exporters have been required to report on actual exports of defense materiel previously authorized by licenses. 32 companies reported exports of defense materiel or related services in 1999. Small arms manufacture in Norway is minor, and Norway is currently not a producer of military-style small arms. Raufoss produces small arms caliber ammunition, primarily for the Norwegian army, rather than for export. Historically, Kongsberg has been the principal manufacturer of military-style small arms under license from foreign military firms. In a phone interview in May 1999, the information director of Kongsberg said that all small arms industry from Kongsberg was transferred to Bandak A.S. The information director at Bandak A.S said that Norway stopped producing small arms--even under license--in the late 1980s. The following tables reflect past manufacture, rather than current. Raufoss Technology Kongsberg Defense Source: Jane's publications (Light Weapons, Small Arms and Landmines: An Identification Manual, 1997) |
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And the per capita basis for the claim is meaningless as Norway has a population of approx. 4.5 million. There are FReepers that reload that could give Norway a run for the money. ;>)
ANybody know where I can get a left-hand Kongsberg Mauser? I've been looking for one for a long time...they are scarce as hen's teeth.
Norway is a huge arms exporter, oil exporter and whale killer.
No wonder why the Lefties always mean "Sweden" when referring to Scandinavian Utopia.
Hopefully she is in the minority there.
I have an 1940 vintage M98 they took from the Wehrmacht,
re-arsenaled and rebarreled for 30-06. Beautiful blue
job. Unfortunatly the German laminated stock is not up
to taking the pounding from this round.
Norway's rate of household gun ownership is thirty-two percent, the second highest in the world, led only by the United States' thirty-nine percent.
They also have the lowest murder rate in Europe, while tiny Luxemburg which outlaws all gun ownership has the highest.
I was looking for the commercially produced, sporting Kongsberg. They are made in a left-hand version, and a few of these were imported into the United States in the late 1990s.
In his old age, Roland the headless Thompson Gunner became Roland the headless Thompson gun runner.
That was mrs Kristin Halvorsen, but she had to do a 180 on that one...
I'm from Bergen, that is on the west coast, but you're right: Tønsberg is a lovely place...
Yes, but they make a lot of high-end weapon systems too: f ex the kongsberg penguin antiship missile (carried by american seahawk helicopters) and the new NSM (antiship cruise missile)...
Now if we could just get that Whale locking mechanism to work I'll be content! :D
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