OSLO, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Norway and Ukraine have signed an agreement to launch joint production of Ukrainian drones in Norway, the Norwegian government said on Monday.

The agreement was signed in Kyiv by Norway's Ambassador to Ukraine Lars Ragnar Aalerud Hansen and Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Sergiy Boyev, according to a statement from Norway's Ministry of Defense.

The Ukrainian manufacturer has told the Norwegian Ministry of Defense that it expects the first Norwegian-produced systems to be delivered to Ukraine before this summer, the statement said.

Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik said the cooperation marks "an important and concrete step" toward deeper Norwegian-Ukrainian defense cooperation.

The agreement will also facilitate bilateral industrial cooperation, including efforts to strengthen supply chains and establish joint research and development cooperation. ■