Germany’s industrial scale and Norway’s technological expertise create strong potential for deeper defence cooperation. But turning that potential into operational capabilities will require closer involvement of end users, more effective testing and less complex processes, says Ove Ladegård, Managing Director of Rohde & Schwarz Norge AS. Looking back on the German-Norwegian Defence Dialogue 2026, he explains why local presence matters and what successful bilateral cooperation should deliver.
Rohde & Schwarz is a German technology company with operations around the world. Why has the company chosen to rely on strong local presence in Norway?
Ove Ladegård: Being close to the markets globally is part of how we operate. Historically, this was driven by our Test & Measurement business, but local operations are equally important for our Defence and Security business. Rohde & Schwarz Norge AS was established as a limited company at the end of 1994 and has created local value ever since.
Local presence keeps us in close contact with end users, not only during development but throughout a product’s entire lifecycle. Direct feedback helps us understand customers’ needs, identify improvements and develop new solutions. Furthermore, our local presence in countries such as Norway helps build the European defence industry.
In what way?
A local organisation provides greater flexibility and contributes to a more sovereign supply chain with a clear European focus. It becomes easier to prioritise urgent requirements, involve research and development teams, and implement design changes when necessary. Providing this support with local and national employees is important, not only for security requirements, but also for cultural understanding and effective communication. A local footprint connects directly to one of the central messages from the German-Norwegian Defence Dialogue 2026: Europe needs to deliver at greater scale and at higher speed.
What role should end users play in that process?
If you want to provide the right solution, you first have to understand the customer’s actual needs and challenges.
To increase both speed and quality, we must include operational experience from the beginning. Being local improves that interaction and creates greater transparency. Even though Rohde & Schwarz has been present in Norway for more than 30 years, strengthening this relationship remains an ongoing process.
The need to accelerate innovation and procurement recurred throughout the conference. What needs to change on the political and industrial sides?
Industry needs predictable and reliable framework conditions. Regulations and procurement processes are essential in the defence sector, but excessive bureaucracy and complexity can slow development and prevent companies from scaling their solutions.
On the other side, industry must also do its part. We need iterative development, reliable lifecycle support and modular solutions based on standardised interfaces and open architecture. These principles make it easier to adapt systems, integrate technologies from different suppliers and respond to changing requirements.
Rohde & Schwarz is a technology provider rather than a system house. Interoperability, modularity and compliance with relevant standards have therefore always been important to us.
Where does Rohde & Schwarz Norge AS currently have its strongest footprint?
We are well represented in the Norwegian defence market within secure communications, SIGINT/EW, test & verification and services. Our counter-drone solutions are also supplied.
Major projects are coming up in the Norwegian Navy and Coast Guard, and as an existing supplier, these projects are of particular interest. R&S also supplies the Integrated Communications System on board Norway’s new Type 26 frigates, which opens up further standardisation and local added value.
Electronics, secure communications, and electromagnetic domain capabilities will become increasingly important for future defence operations. Recent conflicts have clearly demonstrated the relevance of these technologies.
What makes Norway an attractive environment for developing and testing them?
Norway combines demanding operational conditions with strong technological expertise. This makes the country an excellent environment for testing solutions, exploring new applications, and preparing technologies for large-scale deployment.
The strong international interest in Norway’s Jammertest demonstrates the growing importance of testing systems in contested electromagnetic environments. Rohde & Schwarz also participates in this arena.
We have strengthened our Norwegian organisation with technical expertise in areas including radio-frequency technology and software. Our ambition is to become an even stronger partner, not only for end users but also for Norwegian industry. Closer integration and collaboration can support valuable knowledge exchange between companies and between Norway and Germany.
Where do you see the greatest potential for German-Norwegian defence industrial cooperation?
Germany and Norway bring highly complementary strengths to the partnership. Germany has an established industrial base, a large market and the capacity to manufacture at scale. Norway has deep technological expertise, particularly in the digital sector, and a strong ability to develop innovative solutions.
But complementary capabilities alone are not enough. We also need shared objectives, trust, open communication, mutual benefits and accountability. To a large extent, this is already in place in our German-Norwegian relationship, and I believe German-Norwegian cooperation will become stronger, deeper, and even more successful as we move forward.
What will such an “even more successful cooperation” look like?
For me, success would be that the High North has become a practical arena for German-Norwegian defence innovation and sustainment. If we jointly develop, test, and support critical communications and electromagnetic-domain capabilities in ways that improve readiness for both nations and NATO, then the partnership has truly delivered.
The German-Norwegian Defence Dialogue 2026, organised by the German-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce, brought together representatives from government, industry and research to discuss bilateral defence cooperation, industrial resilience and future capability development.