Stark Defence eyes Nordic factory network

German defence scale-up Stark Defence plans to establish manufacturing facilities and expand its supply chain across all four Nordic countries as part of a broader strategy centred on what it describes as "industrial deterrence".

- The overall aim is industrial deterrence, said Johannes Arlt Bjerrehøj, senior vice president for Nordics, Outreach and Strategy at Stark Defence.

As reported Tuesday, the company opened an office in Stockholm in January to tap Sweden’s defence industrial base and engineering expertise.

- We want to regionalise even further, said Arlt Bjerrehøj.

Stark Defence develops and manufactures autonomous systems, including loitering munitions, and aims to source entirely from European supply chains.

The company has plans for an industrial footprint across all Nordic countries, with capabilities that allow it to scale through resilient Nordic supply chains.

The strategy is designed to ensure that Stark Defence can continue delivering capabilities during a crisis or conflict, even if supply routes across the Baltic Sea are disrupted, Arlt Bjerrehøj said noting that the company’s ambition is to deliver "capability reliably and fulfil commitments to customers".

Before joining Stark Defence, Johannes Arlt Bjerrehøj served in the German Air Force, including four deployments to Afghanistan and two to Mali. 

In his view, the defence sector has too often produced costly programmes that failed to deliver promised capabilities.

- When I decided to join Stark, I was attracted by the ambition to deliver on promises and to do so on time. Countries need to feel certain that they will have access to these products in times of crisis, he said.

Arlt Bjerrehøj argued that the company’s approach is reflected in its industrial footprint rather than in corporate messaging alone.

Stark Defence has established a factory in Ukraine and most recently opened a facility in Swindon, England, a growing drone manufacturing hub with a longstanding defence industrial presence.

On 5 June, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the Swindon site and highlighted the company during a speech.

- Can I just start by thanking you for showing me around today, Starmer said, according to a transcript published by the UK government:

- What you’re doing, the capability that you’ve got here, the speed of development - it is a real reminder that we have a brilliant front line in our armed forces.

According to Arlt Bjerrehøj, between 90 percent and 95 percent of products delivered to future Nordic customers will be sourced from national or regional suppliers.

- We don’t believe in the big, white Tesla factory, he said.

- We want to be close to the customer, and we know there are many companies across the Nordics with capabilities that can contribute.