Arondite plans £35 million of investment in Norway as the Royal Navy agrees a multi-million-pound deal for Cobalt software across UK Commando Force, with Norwegian units expected to join future tests.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced the arrangement Nov. 12. It said the deal covers deployment of the British defense technology company’s software across the force but did not disclose the contract’s exact value.
The MOD says Cobalt is intended to bring together information from commando sensors, autonomous platforms and other data feeds. Its AI functions are meant to help command staff make decisions faster in difficult, contested environments. The announcement provided no performance measurements or deployment schedule.
Under the plan, Norwegian units would get access to Cobalt for joint testing during upcoming deployments. The MOD did not name the units or give test dates. It said the software is also intended to help UK Commando Force coordinate with other British defense units and partners in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).
Arondite plans to invest £35 million in Norway over the next five years and establish its first office outside Britain in Oslo, the MOD said. The company is aiming to double its workforce to 150 employees by summer 2027. The announcement did not give its current headcount or say how many employees would be based in Norway.
The ministry linked the planned tests to the JEF’s Northern Navies Initiative. Representatives of its 10 maritime nations signed the initiative Nov. 10, with the goal of improving cooperation in the Baltic Sea, North Atlantic and High North. Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton said Cobalt would give commandos “a decisive edge.”
The MOD also said UK Commando Force is receiving a separate £100 million capability investment uplift through the Defence Investment Plan. It did not identify that funding as money for the Arondite deal. The plan covers £298 billion in defense investment across fiscal 2026-27 through 2029-30. The ministry has not announced dates for the Norwegian tests.
