From tanks to space, Norway and Germany forge ahead with ‘Hansa’ defense pact

VIENNA — German tank maker KNDS and Norway’s Ritek have begun producing Leopard 2A8 tanks in Norway, adding a land-based industrial foothold to a security partnership spanning submarines, missiles and military operations in Europe’s north. Production started Oct. 15 in Levanger, where the companies will build 37 of the Norwegian Army’s 54 new tanks, KNDS said in an email. The facility took 18 months to establish and has a stated capacity of up to 36 tanks annually. The production launch follows the partners’ inauguration of the manufacturing and testing infrastructure in late April. October’s…