What Is Kongsberg? Norway’s Missile and Air Defence Giant Explained

Kongsberg Gruppen ASA is a Norway-based global technology conglomerate whose defence arm — Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace — has quietly become one of NATO’s most indispensable weapon-system suppliers. Best known for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), NASAMS air defence system and the Protector Remote Weapon Station, the company punches far above its home country’s weight in the global arms market.

Company at a Glance

Parameter	Value	Source
Full name	Kongsberg Gruppen ASA	Oslo Stock Exchange
Founded	1814 (armaments factory)	Kongsberg corporate
Headquarters	Kongsberg, Numedal, Norway	Kongsberg corporate
Employees (2023)	~11,500 (group-wide)	Annual Report 2023
Revenue (2023)	~NOK 39 billion (~USD 3.7 billion)	Annual Report 2023
Ownership	Norwegian State 50 % + Oslo Stock Exchange	Oslo Stock Exchange
Main segments	Defence & Aerospace / Maritime / Digital	Kongsberg corporate
Key products	NSM, JSM, NASAMS, Protector RWS, HUGIN AUV	Kongsberg

Business Segments

Segment	Key Products	Revenue Share (est.)	Source
Defence & Aerospace	NSM, NASAMS, Protector, JSM	~65 %	Annual Report 2023
Maritime	HUGIN AUV, ship systems, navigation	~25 %	Annual Report 2023
Digital	Subsea tech, industrial IoT	~10 %	Annual Report 2023

Why Kongsberg Matters to NATO

Capability	Kongsberg Product	NATO Users	Source
Medium-range air defence	NASAMS	12+ nations	Kongsberg / SIPRI
Anti-ship / coastal strike	NSM / NSM-CD	USA, Poland, Germany, Romania, Australia	SIPRI
F-35 internal weapon	JSM	Norway, Japan	Kongsberg
Remote weapon station	Protector RWS	USA (14,000+), Norway, Australia	US Army / KDA

Stock Performance & Financials

Year	Defence Revenue (NOK bn)	YoY Growth	Source
2020	~13	—	Kongsberg AR 2020
2021	~14	~8 %	Kongsberg AR 2021
2022	~18	~29 %	Kongsberg AR 2022
2023	~25	~39 %	Kongsberg AR 2023

FAQ

Is Kongsberg a state-owned company?
The Norwegian government owns exactly 50 % of Kongsberg Gruppen ASA. The remaining shares are publicly traded on Oslo Stock Exchange.

What is Kongsberg famous for?
NSM (anti-ship missile), NASAMS (medium-range air defence) and the Protector CROWS used on US Army vehicles.