Nordic defense firms still look like quiet employers until you line up the 2022 figures and notice how lopsided they are toward defense work and export orders. Saab alone sits at 88% of group revenues from defense, while the region’s arms export totals stretch from Sweden’s 16.4 billion USD to Norway’s 4.2 billion NOK, largely tied to missile systems. This post connects those financial, workforce, and production capacity snapshots so the patterns behind platform delivery and ammunition scaling become clear.
Key Takeaways
- Nordic defense industry employed 85,000 people in 2022 across Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark
- Saab AB had 21,000 employees in 2022, 90% in defense sectors
- Kongsberg Gruppen employed 12,500 staff in 2022 with 70% in defense
- Sweden's arms exports totaled 16.4 billion USD in 2022 per SIPRI
- Norway exported defense goods worth 4.2 billion NOK in 2022 mainly missiles
- Finland's defense exports reached 531 million EUR in 2022 led by Patria
- In 2022, Saab AB reported defense revenues of 41.3 billion SEK, representing 88% of total group revenues
- Kongsberg Gruppen ASA achieved 2022 revenues of 36.4 billion NOK from its defense and aerospace segment, up 28% from 2021
- Patria Oyj's net sales in 2022 reached 1.1 billion EUR, with defense vehicles contributing 62%
- Kongsberg NASAMS production capacity 300 fire units per year as of 2023 ramp-up from 2022
- Saab Gripen E/F production rate 12-15 aircraft annually post-2022
- Nammo Raufoss small/medium cal ammo 100 million rounds/year capacity 2022
- Saab invested 5.4 billion SEK in R&D in 2022, 13% of revenues
- Kongsberg allocated 3.2 billion NOK to defense R&D in 2022
- Patria R&D spend 85 million EUR or 8% of sales 2022
In 2022, Nordic defense firms employed tens of thousands and drove exports and revenues through major platform and ammunition output.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment Statistics28 stats
01
Nordic defense industry employed 85,000 people in 2022 across Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark
02
Saab AB had 21,000 employees in 2022, 90% in defense sectors
03
Kongsberg Gruppen employed 12,500 staff in 2022 with 70% in defense
04
Patria Oyj workforce totaled 3,200 in 2022, up 10% YoY
05
Nammo Group had 2,800 employees across Nordic sites in 2022
06
Terma A/S employed 1,900 people in 2022 mainly engineers
07
Swedish defense industry total employment 45,000 in 2022 per SIPRI
08
Norwegian defense sector jobs 25,000 direct 2022 per NHO
09
Finnish defense industry employed 15,000 in 2022
10
BAE Hägglunds 1,200 employees in Örnsköldsvik Sweden 2022
11
Saab's R&D staff numbered 6,000 engineers in 2022
12
Kongsberg high-tech jobs 4,500 in defense 2022
13
Patria engineers 1,000 out of 3,200 total 2022
14
Nammo production workers 1,500 in Finland/Norway 2022
15
Terma 70% workforce STEM qualified 1,330 engineers 2022
16
Danish defense industry 8,000 jobs 2022 per DIU
17
Millog Oy 1,100 employees maintaining Finnish army gear 2022
18
Saab Kockums 900 shipyard workers 2022
19
Kongsberg Digital defense IT staff 2,000 2022
20
Ruag Sweden 800 employees in space/defense 2022
21
Systematic A/S 1,200 software engineers 2022
22
Total Nordic defense indirect jobs 150,000 2022 estimate
23
Female employment in Saab defense 25% or 5,250 in 2022
24
Norwegian defense apprenticeships 3,000 positions 2022
25
Patria temporary war economy hires +500 in 2022
26
Nammo expanded workforce by 400 to meet Ukraine demand 2022
27
Terma hired 200 new graduates 2022
28
Swedish defense PhDs employed 2,500 industry-wide 2022
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
In 2022, the Nordic defense industry supported 85,000 jobs across the region, showing how major employers like Saab (21,000), Kongsberg Gruppen (12,500), and others with large defense-focused workforces anchor employment in this sector.
02 · Category
Export Volumes30 stats
01
Sweden's arms exports totaled 16.4 billion USD in 2022 per SIPRI
02
Norway exported defense goods worth 4.2 billion NOK in 2022 mainly missiles
03
Finland's defense exports reached 531 million EUR in 2022 led by Patria
04
Saab Gripen exports generated 12 billion SEK in 2022 deliveries
05
Kongsberg NSM missiles exported 10 billion NOK value 2022
06
Nammo ammunition exports 3.1 billion NOK to 25 countries in 2022
07
Terma radar systems exported 1.5 billion DKK in 2022
08
Patria NEMO turret exports to Sweden 200 million EUR in 2022
09
Danish defense exports grew 15% to 3.8 billion DKK in 2022
10
BAE Systems Hägglunds CV90 exported 50 units to Norway 2 billion SEK 2022
11
Saab RBS 70 NG exported to 20 nations 1.2 billion SEK 2022
12
Kongsberg Protector remote weapon exported 1.8 billion NOK 2022
13
Finnish Sampo-76 radar exports 150 million EUR 2022
14
Nordic arms exports to Ukraine exceeded 2 billion EUR since 2022
15
Saab 340 AEW&C exported to Thailand 3 billion SEK 2022 phase
16
Nammo 155mm shells exported 500,000 units worth 2.5 billion NOK 2022
17
Terma PIDS exported to Middle East 800 million DKK 2022
18
Patria 6x6 vehicles exported to Qatar 400 million EUR 2022
19
Swedish exports 70% of production value 18 billion SEK 2022
20
Norway's export licenses issued for 6.5 billion NOK 2022
21
Finland top exports: Patria AMV 300 units 2022
22
Kongsberg JSM to Australia 5 billion NOK contract phase 2022
23
Saab GlobalEye sales to UAE 7 billion SEK 2022 deliveries
24
Danish Archer AGS export potential 1 billion DKK 2022 bids
25
Nammo Stinger components exported 900 million NOK US 2022
26
Terma Scanter radars 200 units exported 2022
27
Patria Opv exported to Ireland 100 million EUR 2022
28
Nordic small arms exports 1.2 billion EUR 2022 per SIPRI
29
Saab Barracuda camouflage exported 500 million SEK 2022
30
Kongsberg ORC UAS exported 300 million NOK 2022
Interpretation
Export Volumes Interpretation
In 2022, Nordic export volumes showed a clear concentration in missiles and aircraft and weapon systems, with Sweden leading at 16.4 billion USD and Norway and Nammo also exporting at multi-billion NOK levels, while Finland added 531 million EUR and major programs like Saab Gripen at 12 billion SEK and Kongsberg NSM at 10 billion NOK reinforced the scale of defense industrial exports.
03 · Category
Market Size And Revenue30 stats
01
In 2022, Saab AB reported defense revenues of 41.3 billion SEK, representing 88% of total group revenues
02
Kongsberg Gruppen ASA achieved 2022 revenues of 36.4 billion NOK from its defense and aerospace segment, up 28% from 2021
03
Patria Oyj's net sales in 2022 reached 1.1 billion EUR, with defense vehicles contributing 62%
04
Nammo AS generated 5.2 billion NOK in sales in 2022, primarily from ammunition production
05
Terma A/S recorded 2022 revenues of 2.8 billion DKK, with 95% from radar and self-protection systems
06
The total Nordic defense industry market size was estimated at 15 billion EUR in 2022
07
BAE Systems Hägglunds (Sweden) contributed 12 billion SEK to parent revenues in 2022 via CV90 production
08
Leonardo MW (Finland, formerly Patria Land) had 2022 sales of 450 million EUR in land systems
09
Saab's Kockums submarine division generated 3.2 billion SEK in 2022 contracts
10
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace's missile systems sales hit 15 billion NOK in 2022
11
Danish defense industry revenues grew 12% YoY to 4.5 billion DKK in 2022 per DIU
12
Finnish defense exports supported 1.2 billion EUR industry revenue in 2022
13
Norwegian defense sector GDP contribution was 1.8% or 12 billion NOK in 2022
14
Saab Aerostructures revenues were 4.1 billion SEK in 2022
15
Ruag Space (Sweden ops) defense-related sales 1.5 billion SEK 2022
16
Systematic A/S (Denmark) 2022 revenues 2.2 billion DKK from C4I systems
17
Millog Oy (Finland) maintenance contracts worth 300 million EUR annually as of 2022
18
Nordic defense OEMs total revenue share of Europe 8.5% in 2022
19
Saab's Gripen division revenues 18 billion SEK in 2022
20
Kongsberg NASAMS sales contributed 8 billion NOK to 2022 totals
21
Patria AMV exports drove 40% revenue growth to 750 million EUR in 2022
22
Nammo's Lapua ammunition line sales 1.8 billion NOK 2022
23
Terma's aviation division 1.9 billion DKK revenue 2022
24
Total Swedish defense industry output 120 billion SEK in 2022 per FOI
25
Norwegian industry defense sales 25 billion NOK 2022 per NHO
26
Finnish EDA revenues 900 million EUR 2022
27
Saab Dynamics revenues 10 billion SEK from missiles 2022
28
Kongsberg Maritime defense crossover sales 4 billion NOK 2022
29
Patria Aviation 250 million EUR sales 2022
30
Nordic defense market projected to grow 5.2% CAGR to 2027 reaching 20 billion EUR
Interpretation
Market Size And Revenue Interpretation
In 2022, the Nordic defense industry market was about 15 billion EUR while major companies reported substantial defense-linked revenue concentrations, such as Saab’s 41.3 billion SEK defense sales reaching 88% of its total group revenue and Kongsberg’s 36.4 billion NOK defense and aerospace segment revenues growing 28% year over year.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Capacities29 stats
01
Kongsberg NASAMS production capacity 300 fire units per year as of 2023 ramp-up from 2022
02
Saab Gripen E/F production rate 12-15 aircraft annually post-2022
03
Nammo Raufoss small/medium cal ammo 100 million rounds/year capacity 2022
04
Patria AMV/Wolverine 400 vehicles/year max capacity 2022
05
Terma radar production 500 units annually across series 2022
06
BAE Hägglunds CV90 production 200 hulls/year peak 2022
07
Saab munitions plant Locarno (Nordic tech) 1 million 155mm shells/year
08
Kongsberg NSM missile output 100 units/year 2022 scaled
09
Finnish Patria Nemo howitzer 50 systems/year capacity 2022
10
Nammo Pyrotechnics Sweden 50,000 pyros/month 2022
11
Terma self-protection pods 1,000/year capacity 2022
12
Saab Kockums A26 sub construction 1 hull every 3 years post-2022
13
Kongsberg Remote Towers for defense 20 systems/year 2022
14
Millog maintenance capacity Finnish Leopard 2 fleet full 2022
15
Swedish Bofors 155mm production 300,000 shells/year 2022 surge
16
Patria 8x8 truck production 100 units/year ramp 2022
17
Nammo large cal 155mm 50,000 projectiles/year Nordic plants 2022
18
Terma EO/IR sensors 2,000 units/year 2022
19
Saab Barracuda materials 1 million sqm/year capacity 2022
20
Kongsberg CROWS 5,000 remote weapons cumulative capacity 2022
21
Danish StanFlex modules 100/year modular ship kits 2022
22
Finnish Sisu GTP 200 vehicles/year potential 2022
23
Saab RBS 70 production 500 launchers/year 2022
24
Nammo TALON rocket 10,000/year capacity 2022
25
Terma gateway processors 10,000 units/year 2022
26
Patria Garoff road vehicles 150/year 2022
27
Nordic 155mm shell production total 500,000/year combined 2022
28
Saab AEW&C GlobalEye 4 aircraft/year rate post-2022
29
Kongsberg Iris-T SLS 200 missiles/year capacity 2022
Interpretation
Production Capacities Interpretation
Nordic production capacities show a strong throughput focus, with annual scales reaching up to 400 Patria AMV and Wolverine vehicles and 300 Kongsberg NASAMS fire units per year by 2023 ramping from 2022, while other areas like Terma radars at 500 units and BAE Hägglunds CV90 at 200 hulls per year reinforce this trend of meeting defense demand with sizable manufacturing output.
05 · Category
R&d Investment30 stats
01
Saab invested 5.4 billion SEK in R&D in 2022, 13% of revenues
02
Kongsberg allocated 3.2 billion NOK to defense R&D in 2022
03
Patria R&D spend 85 million EUR or 8% of sales 2022
04
Nammo invested 450 million NOK in new ammo tech 2022
05
Terma R&D budget 450 million DKK 16% of revenue 2022
06
Nordic defense R&D total 4.5 billion EUR 2022 per EDA
07
Saab patents filed 250 in defense tech 2022
08
Kongsberg R&D centers employ 1,500 with 1 billion NOK annual
09
Finnish DTEC consortium R&D 200 million EUR Ukraine-related 2022
10
FOI Sweden defense R&D projects 150 funded 500 million SEK 2022
11
Patria digital twin R&D investment 30 million EUR 2022
12
Nammo 40mm grenade R&D 100 million NOK new gen 2022
13
Terma AESA radar R&D 200 million DKK 2022
14
Saab AI autonomy R&D 1 billion SEK Gripen E 2022
15
Kongsberg hypersonic missile R&D 800 million NOK 2022
16
Norwegian FFI R&D budget 1.2 billion NOK 2022
17
Danish DTU defense-related R&D grants 150 million DKK 2022
18
Saab quantum sensor R&D pilot 200 million SEK 2022
19
Patria unmanned systems R&D 50 million EUR 2022
20
Nammo green propulsion R&D 80 million NOK EU-funded 2022
21
Terma counter-drone R&D 100 million DKK 2022
22
Total Swedish gov R&D grants defense 2.8 billion SEK 2022
23
Kongsberg-Saab JV R&D NASAMS ER 400 million NOK 2022
24
Finnish Business Finland defense tech grants 120 million EUR 2022
25
BAE Hägglunds CV90 MkIV R&D 500 million SEK 2022
26
Nordic EDA collaborative R&D projects 15 valued 300 million EUR 2022
27
Saab space surveillance R&D 300 million SEK 2022
28
Nammo RAMJET R&D phase 150 million NOK 2022
29
Terma IRST21 R&D completed 250 million DKK investment 2022
30
Patria NEMO 120 R&D upgrades 40 million EUR 2022
Interpretation
R&d Investment Interpretation
In 2022, Nordic defense firms showed a clear R and D investment commitment, ranging from Saab’s 5.4 billion SEK and Terma’s 450 million DKK each at about 16 percent of revenue to a region wide total of 4.5 billion EUR for defense R and D, underscoring that innovation is being funded at meaningful scale across the sector.
report visual · Breakdown
Nordic defense workforce & export strength (2022)
The Nordic defense industry combines large-scale employment with high export orientation across major national players.
90%
Saab AB had 21,000 employees in 2022, 90% in defense sectors
10%
Patria Oyj workforce totaled 3,200 in 2022, up 10% YoY
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
James Okoro. (2026, February 13). Nordic Defense Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nordic-defense-industry-statistics
MLA
James Okoro. "Nordic Defense Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nordic-defense-industry-statistics.
Chicago
James Okoro. 2026. "Nordic Defense Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nordic-defense-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
36 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level