Denmark taps Norwegian firm to reopen ammo plant amid growing security concerns

In a recent article, Defense News highlights that Denmark has selected Norwegian ammunition manufacturer Nammo to reopen a long-shuttered plant in northern Jutland, aiming to ramp up production of critical small and large-caliber ammunition. 

Denmark has chosen Norwegian ammunition manufacturer Nammo to reopen a closed ammunition plant for the production of both small and large-caliber ammunition.

Nammo will begin producing ammunition for the Danish military and other partners once the production facilities at the plant are fully prepared. Final negotiations with Nammo, including the timeline for when production will begin, are still in progress.

The Danish Defence Ministry highlighted that the ongoing security concerns, the war in Ukraine, and an updated threat assessment from the Danish Defence Intelligence Service underscore the importance of securing future ammunition production in Denmark. "This will make a difference to the security of supply for Denmark, the Nordic region, and Europe," said Defence Minister Troels Lund Poelsen.

In the meantime, Denmark urgently requires ammunition stocks and plans to rapidly build up its stockpile of mortar and artillery shells even before production begins at the Elling plant. This move comes in response to an assessment of potential Russian military buildup, as outlined by the Ministry of Defence.

Lund Poelsen stressed the importance of starting the build-up of ammunition stockpiles for the Danish Armed Forces immediately, with decisions on short-term actions to be made “together with the parties involved.”

Last month, the Danish government approved an additional 50 billion Danish kroner (approximately $7 billion) for defence over the next two years, increasing defense spending to over 3 per cent of GDP in 2025 and 2026.

In October 2023, Denmark finalized the purchase of the closed ammunition production facilities at Elling, located in northern Jutland. The country’s aim is to explore options for bringing ammunition production back on domestic soil. The facility had been sold to Expal in 2008, and production ceased in 2020 following years of financial losses.

The Elling ammunition plant has a long history, dating back to 1676 when it was first established by Fyrværkerikompagniet in Copenhagen.

Nammo is set to manufacture 155 mm and 120 mm shells, along with 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm caliber cartridges at the Elling plant. These calibers are NATO-standard, as confirmed by the Danish Ministry of Defence.

"Nammo has what it takes to become a long-term and solid partner for Denmark, with deep industrial and technical expertise, established supply chains, and solid Norwegian-Finnish ownership to bolster lasting Nordic cooperation," said Nammo CEO Morten Brandtzæg in a statement. "We look forward to finalizing an agreement to get production started."

The Norwegian company also emphasized its work to improve ammunition interchangeability within the Nordic region, a goal that will be further supported by new production in Denmark.

Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine highlighted Europe's vulnerabilities in ammunition production, as many facilities were closed or scaled down after the Cold War due to reduced demand. Ukraine, in particular, has faced artillery shell shortages as its allies deplete stocks and struggle to ramp up production. The European Union now expects to produce 2 million shells by the end of 2025—double the pace from the previous year.

Nammo is jointly owned by the Norwegian state and Finland’s Patria, with the Finnish state holding a 50.1 per cent stake. The remainder of Patria is owned by Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, which is itself 50.1 per cent owned by the Norwegian state.

By Naila Huseynova