Kongsberg tops STOXX on $1.2 bln air defence orders

** Shares in Kongsberg Gruppen KOG.OL rise nearly 5%, topping the pan-European index STOXX 600 .STOXX, after the Norwegian defence group on Tuesday announced two air-defence contracts worth a combined 11.5 billion Norwegian crowns ($1.20 billion)

** The NOK 10 bln deal covers 10 NASAMS air-defence systems for Belgium, with the Netherlands handling the purchase on its behalf

** Kongsberg also won a NOK 1.5 bln Dutch contract to expand the Netherlands' CITADEL programme with NOMADS and additional NASAMS systems

** Including today's rise the stock has gained 50.91% YTD

** The stock is on track for its best day since April

($1 = 9.5885 Norwegian crowns)