Norwegian Armed Forces
Forsvaret
The Norwegian Armed Forces is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Norway. It consists of four branches, the Norwegian Army, the Royal Norwegian Navy, which includes the Coast Guard, the Royal Norwegian Air Force, and the Home Guard, as well as several joint departments.
The military force in peace time is around 23,250 personnel including military and civilian staff, and around 63,250 in total with the current military personnel, conscripts and the Norwegian Home Guard in full mobilization.
Among European NATO members, the military expenditure of US$7.2 billion is the highest per capita.
The formal commander-in-chief is King Harald V; however, the de facto supreme decision-making is made by the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister. The Chief of Defence (a four-star general or admiral) is the professional head and leader of the armed forces, and is the principal military adviser to the Minister of Defence. The Chief of Defence and his staff is located at Akershus Fortress in Oslo, while the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, responsible for commanding operations, is located in Bodø. The main naval base is Haakonsvern in Bergen, the main army camps are in Bardu, Målselv and Rena, and the main air station is Ørland.
Military branches (in order of seniority):
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Norwegian Army
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Royal Norwegian Navy
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Royal Norwegian Air Force
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Home Guard
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Norwegian Cyber Force
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Norwegian Special Operation Forces (NORSOF)
Other main structures include:
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Defence Staff Norway (DEFSTNOR) in Oslo acts as the staff of the Chief of Defence. It is headed by a three-star general or admiral. DEFSTNOR assigns priorities, manages resources, provides force generation and support activities. Each of the four branches of defence is headed by a two-star general/admiral who are subordinate to DEFSTNOR.
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Norwegian Joint Headquarters (NJHQ) located at Reitan, close to Bodø has operational control of Norwegian armed forces worldwide 24/7. It is headed by the Supreme Commander Norwegian Forces – a three-star general or admiral.
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Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation (NDLO) at Kolsås outside Oslo is responsible for engineering, procurement, investment, supply, information and communications technology. It is also responsible for maintenance, repair and storage of material.
Norway employs a weak form of mandatory military service for men and women. While 63,841 men and women were called in for the examination of persons liable for military service in 2012 (mandatory for men), 9265 were conscripted. In practice recruits are not forced to serve, instead only those who are motivated are selected. In earlier times, up until at least the early 2000s, all men aged 19–44 were subject to mandatory service, with good reasons required to avoid becoming drafted.
Since 1985, women have been able to enlist for voluntary service as regular recruits. On 14 June 2013, the Norwegian Parliament voted to extend conscription to women. In 2015 conscription was extended to women making Norway the first NATO member and first European country to make national service compulsory for both men and women. There is a right of conscientious objection.
Military age Male: 17-44 (55 for officers) years of age for compulsory military service.
Female: 17 years of age for military service. Compulsory for females born in 2000 or later;
Conscription 19-month service obligation;
Reaching military age annually 31,980 males, 30,543 females;
Active personnel 23,250 (2019);
Reserve personnel 40,000 in the Norwegian Home Guard (2019);
Deployed personnel 384 (2019);
Budget US$ 7,231 Million;
Percent of GDP 2% (2021).
Ref: Wikipedia.
Norwegian
Air Force
Norwegian
Army
Norwegian
Navy
Norwegian
National Guard
Norwegian
Space Force
Royal Norwegian Air Force
Luftforsvaret
The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian Armed Forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peacetime establishment is approximately 2,430 employees (officers, enlisted staff and civilians). 600 personnel also serve their draft period in the RNoAF. After mobilization the RNoAF would consist of approximately 5,500 personnel.
The infrastructure of the RNoAF includes seven airbases (at Ørland, Rygge, Andøya, Evenes, Bardufoss, Bodø and Gardermoen), one control and reporting centre (at Sørreisa) and three training centres at Værnes in Trondheim, Kjevik in Kristiansand and at KNM Harald Haarfagre/Madlaleiren in Stavanger.
The RNoAF is organized in five Air Wings. These are divided into a total of one Control and Reporting Centre, nine flying squadrons as well as two ground based air defense units. The former distinctiontion between a Main Air Station (hovedflystasjon) and an Air Station (flystasjon) was replaced by a new distinction between an Air Force Station (flystasjon) and an Air Force Base (Luftforsvarets base).
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131 Air Wing, in Sørreisa
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Control and Reporting Centre Sørreisa, reports to NATO's Integrated Air Defense System CAOC Uedem in Germany
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Radar Station Njunis, with RAT-31SL/N
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Radar Station Senja, with RAT-31SL/N
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Radar Station Honningsvåg, with RAT-31SL/N
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Radar Station Vestvågøy, with SINDRE I
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Radar Station Vågsøy, with SINDRE I
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Radar Station Skykula, with SINDRE I
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132 Air Wing (132 Luftving), HQ at Ørland Air Station
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Ørland Air Station (Ørland flystasjon)
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332 Squadron (332 skvadron), with F-35A Lightning II
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Testing, Training and Tactics Development Squadron (Testing, trening og taktikk skvadron), with F-35A Lightning II
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Aircraft Maintenance Group Ørland (Vedlikeholdsgruppen Ørland)
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Air Defence Battalion NASAMS III (Luftvernbataljonen NASAMS III)
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Base Defense Squadron (Baseforsvarsskvadron)
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Base Operations Group Ørland (Basegruppen Ørland)
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Air Force Logistical Base (Logbase Luft)
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NATO Airborne Early Warning Force – Forward Operating Location, for E-3A Sentry
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Bodø Air Force Base Force Base Bodø (Luftforsvarets base Bodø)
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331 Squadron (331 Skvadron), with F-16A MLU Falcon (to be replaced with F-35A Lightning II, and relocated to Ørland Main Air Station)
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Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Bodø (Vedlikeholdsskvadronen Bodø)
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Maritime Helicopter Wing (Maritim helikopterving), HQ at Bardufoss Air Station
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Bardufoss Air Station (Bardufoss flystasjon)
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337 Squadron (337 skvadron), with NHIndustries NH90NFH, also known as the Coast Guard Squadron (Kystvaktskvadronen), as the helicopters operate in support of the Norwegian Coast Guard
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Air Force Flying School (Luftforsvarets flygeskole), with MFI-17 Supporter
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Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (Vedlikeholdsskvadron)
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Base Operations Squadron (Baseskvadron)
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Air Force Base Haakonsvern (Luftforsvarets base Haakonsvern) (air force part of the Haakonsvern Naval Base (Haakonsvern orlogsstasjon)
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334 Squadron (334 skvadron), with NHIndustries NH90NFH, also known as the Frigate [Helicopter] Squadron (Fregattskvadronen), as the helicopters operate on board the Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates
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Station Group Banak (Stasjonsgruppe Banak), at Lakselv Airport
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133 Air Wing, HQ at Evenes Air Station (moved over from Andøya Air Station)
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Evenes Air Station (Evenes flystasjon) - The 333 Squadron will move to Evenes with the introduction of the P-8A Poseidon. The air station will also provide a forward deployment location for the F-35A fighters of the 132nd Air Wing. The expansion of Evenes Air Station and its increased importance will see the base field its own air defence battalion of NASAMS III, independent from the one in Ørland and its own base defence squadron. When Evenes expands to its planned capability, the base will have the following composition:
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Evenes Staff Unit (Stab Evenes)
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333 Squadron (333 skvadron), with 5 Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft in the ASW, maritime patrol, ELINT and EW roles
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Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (Vedlikeholdsskvadron)
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Air Defence Battalion (Luftvernbataljon) (separate from the Air Defence Battalion at Ørland air base)
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Base Defence Squadron (Baseforsvarsskvadron)
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Base Operations Squadron (Baseskvadron)
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Base [Staff] Department(Baseavdeling)
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In addition to the strictly Air Force units Evenes Air Station will also house small contingents (personnel numbers in brackets) of the Norwegian Cyber Defence Force (CYFOR) (20), Norwegian Armed Forces Logistics Organisation (FLO) (30) and the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency (Forsvarsbygg) (20) for a total planned personnel of 651 people at the base.
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Andøya Station Group (Stasjonsgruppe Andøya) at Andøya Air Force Base (Luftforsvarets base Andøya)
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333 Squadron, with P-3C/N, ASW/multirole (unit will move to Evenes Air Base and Andøya will close down as an air base in 2023.)
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134 Air Wing, at Rygge Air Station
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Rygge Air Station (Rygge flystasjon)
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339 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (339 skvadron), with Bell 412 SP (Special forces support)
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Special Operations Air Task Group
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Gardermoen Station Group (Stasjonsgruppe Gardermoen) at Air Force Base Gardermoen (Luftforsvarets base Gardermoen), the military section of Oslo - Gardermoen IAP (The 135th Air Wing was disbanded in August 2018 and absorbed into the 134th Air Wing.)
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335 Squadron (335 skvadron), with C-130J-30 Super Hercules
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717 Squadron (717 skvadron), with DA-20 for electronic warfare & VIP transport
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Armed Forces Center for Electronic Warfare (Forsvarets elektroniske krigføringssenter (FEKS))
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Rescue Helicopter Service (Redningshelikoptertjenesten), HQ at Stavanger - Sola Air Station - In Norway air rescue is a domain of the Ministry of Justice and [Crisis Reaction] Readiness (Justis- og beredskapsdepartementet), which also finances these activities, including the funding for the acquisition of aerial assets (the old Sea King helicopters and their AW101 replacement are owned by the justice ministry). The Rescue Helicopter Service is the operational component, organised, manned and operated by the Air Force on behalf of the Ministry of Justice. Rescue helicopters maintain 15 minute readiness.
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330 Squadron (330 skvadron), Search and Rescue with Sea King and phasing in AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters, at Sola Air Station
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Detachment Banak (detasjement Banak) at Banak Air Force Base
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Detachment Bodø (detasjement Bodø), at Bodø Air Force Base
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Detachment Ørland (detasjement Ørland) Ørland Air Station
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Detachment Rygge (detasjement Rygge) (Rygge Air Station
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Detachment Florø (detasjement Florø) at Florø Airport
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Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy, in Trondheim
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Air force schools (Luftforsvarets skoler):
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Air Force Air Operational Training and Certification Center (Luftforsvarets flyoperative trenings- og sertifiseringssenter), formerly Air Force Air Tactical School (Luftforsvarets flytaktiske skole), at Rygge
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Air Force Flight Training School (Luftforsvarets flygeskole), at Bardufoss, listed above under the Bardufoss Air Station, Maritime Helicopter Wing entry.
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Air Defence Tactical School (Luftverntaktisk skole), at Ørland
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Air Force Base Defence Tactical School (Luftforsvarets baseforsvarstaktiske skole), at Værnes
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Air Force Control and Reporting School (Luftforsvarets kontroll- og varslingsskole), at Sørreisa
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Air Force Flight Technical School (Luftforsvarets tekniske skole), at Kjevik
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Air Force Specialists School (Luftforsvarets spesialistskole), at Kjevik
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Air Warfare School (Luftkrigsskolen), at Trondheim. In 2018 the Air Warfare School (Air Force Officer School) became part of the Armed Forces Academy (Forsvarets Høgskole) and thus no longer part of the Air Force. Listed above as the Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy.
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Ref: Wikipedia
Equipment
Stealth multirole fighter
Norwegian Army
Hæren
The Norwegian Army is the land warfare service branch of the Norwegian Armed Forces. The Army is the oldest of the Norwegian service branches, established as a modern military organization under the command of the King of Norway in 1628. The Army participated in various continental wars during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries as well, both in Norway and abroad, especially in World War II (1939–1945). It constitutes part of the Norwegian military contribution as a charter member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since 1949.
In 2009 the Army introduced the new command and control lines. The Chief of the Army (former General Inspector) now commands three subordinate operational units and five support units:
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Army Staff, in Bardufoss
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Brigade Nord, in Bardufoss
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Hans Majestet Kongens Garde, in Oslo
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Garrison of Sør-Varanger, in Høybuktmoen
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Military intelligence & Electronic Warfare Battalion, in Setermoen
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Land Warfare Centre, in Rena and Terningmoen
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Military police unit
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Operations Support Group, in Bardufoss (Maintenance, Catering, etc.)
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The main task of Hans Majestet Kongens Garde is to protect the King and the royal family in peace, crisis and war. The bases of the battalion is in Oslo and at Terningmoen camp.
Garde is a battalion with high standards in physical fitness, dependability, loyalty, independence, discipline, morale, sense of order, ability to lead themselves in uniform, and the ability to balance their complicated guard duty with relationship to the civilian environment.
In addition to guarding the royal residences all the guards are trained and educated in challenging military combat mission – both as individuals and as part of the Infantry Division. This is to be able to attend His Majesty the King and his family's safety in a modern way in the event of crisis or war.
Brigade Nord is the Norwegian Army's only major combat formation. Brigade Nord is the northernmost combat brigade in NATO and has the capabilities to plan, lead and implement operations with support from other branches of the Norwegian Defence Forces. The brigade is formed primarily around three all-arms battlegroups:
According to the Norwegian MoD 2012 White Paper the Brigade Nord maneuver elements will be reorganised. Telemark Bataljonen and The Armoured Battalion will be organized as two near identical mechanized battalions composed mainly of contract personnel, but with some conscripts. The 2nd Battalion will be developed in the light infantry role, composed mainly of conscript personnel. The brigade will be equipped with organic air defence assets. The reorganization is intended to provide the brigade with 2 continuously combat ready battlegroups.
Founded 1628;
Size 3,725 military personnel. 4,399 conscripts, 688 civilians;
Headquarters Bardufoss;
Motto(s) "For alt vi har. Og alt vi er". ("For everything we have. And everything we are").
Ref: Wikipedia.
Equipment
Royal Norwegian Navy
Sjøforsvaret
The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Armed Forces responsible for naval operations of Norway. As of 2008, the Royal Norwegian Navy consists of approximately 3,700 personnel (9,450 in mobilized state, 32,000 when fully mobilized) and 70 vessels, including 4 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support vessels and 2 training vessels. It also includes the Coast Guard.
This navy has a history dating back to 955. From 1509 to 1814, it formed part of the navy of Denmark-Norway, also referred to as the "Common Fleet". Since 1814, the Royal Norwegian Navy has again existed as a separate navy.
In Norwegian, all its naval vessels since 1946 bear ship prefix "KNM", Kongelig Norske Marine (which accurately translates to Royal Norwegian Navy/Naval vessel). In English, they are permitted still to be ascribed prefix "HNoMS", meaning "His/Her Norwegian Majesty's Ship" ("HNMS" could be also used for the Royal Netherlands Navy, for which "HNLMS" is used instead). Coast Guard vessels are given the prefix "KV" for KystVakt (Coast Guard) in Norwegian and permissibly, and less ambiguously in English, are styled "NoCGV", Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel.
The Navy is organized into the Fleet, the Coast Guard, and the main bases.
The Fleet consists of:
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Fleet Chief Staff,
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Frigate Branch (Fregattvåpenet),
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Submarine Branch (Ubåtvåpenet),
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MTB Branch (MTB-våpenet),
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Mine Branch (Minevåpenet)
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Logistics Branch (Logistikkvåpenet).
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Coastal Ranger Commando (Kystjegerkommandoen)
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Naval EOD Command (Minedykkerkommandoen)
The Naval Schools are:
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Royal Norwegian Naval Basic Training Establishment, KNM Harald Haarfagre, Stavanger
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Royal Norwegian Navy Officer Candidate School, Horten and Bergen
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Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, Laksevåg, Bergen
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Royal Norwegian Naval Training Establishment, KNM Tordenskjold, Haakonsvern, Bergen
Two of the schools of the Navy retain ship prefixes, reminiscent of Royal Navy practises.
Founded April 12, 1814;
Size 3,900 personnel (as of 2013; Does not include Naval Home Guard);
Headquarters Haakonsvern
Equipment
Norwegian Home Guard
Heimevernet
The Norwegian Home Guard is the rapid mobilisation force within the Norwegian military. Founded 6 December 1946, it is the second youngest branch in the Norwegian forces after the Norwegian Cyber Force (Norwegian: Cyberforsvaret). It has land defense units, and has volunteers and conscript personnel with backgrounds from all branches. Its main focus is local defense and civil support, but it can also detach volunteers for international operations.
t is divided into districts ("HV-districts"), which again is divided into smaller units, typically covering a single Municipality. In a wartime situation Heimevernet will typically be used to protect the local infrastructure and population.
The Home Guard has 40,000 soldiers all over the country, distributed on eleven regional districts. The Home Guard also has several rapid-reaction intervention forces consisting of 3,000 voluntarily recruited and well-trained soldiers.
The Home Guard does a troop exchange with the Minnesota National Guard every year. The exchange grew from Norwegian American soldiers sent to Norway to assist resistance fighters in World War II. As part of the exchange, American Guard members are flown to Værnes Air Station and Norwegians are sent to Camp Ripley. Troops complete each other's training, and tour the area.
From 2005, the Home Guard has recruited for a high readiness force with better trained and equipped personnel. It is called the "Rapid Reaction Force" (Norwegian: Innsatsstyrke). This is the spearhead of the combat force that consists of specially selected, educated and equipped personnel. The force can be mobilized rapidly and is a national resource. Effort strengths contribute to national security.
Soldiers often come from operational armed forces in the Armed Forces and commit themselves to a minimum of 3 years service each and can be ordered on a sharp mission in Norway. They must update and further develop their military competence continuously. They can attend a number of courses, task force missions and other defense activities.
There is one Rapid Reaction Force per district, in total 3,000 men and women. The Rapid Reaction Force is the speartip of the Norwegian Home Guard, and contains flexible and mobile units. It has top priority when concerning weapons, material and training resources. The force is ready to respond within hours to acts of terrorism, bomb threats, and or other emergencies. In peacetime, the RRFs can support the police and civilian community with a variety of tasks, including providing security for the public and enforcing police regulations.
The RRFs are named after operations executed during WW2 by the Norwegian Independent Company 1 (a.k.a. Linge Company):
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Oslofjord HV-district 01: RRF Polar Bear VI
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Oslo and Akershus HV-district 02: RRF Derby
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Telemark and Buskerud HV-district 03: RRF Gunnerside
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Opplandske HV-district 05: RRF Grebe
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Agder and Rogaland HV-district 08: RRF Osprey and Varg
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Bergenhus HV-district 09: RRF Bjørn West
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Møre and Fjordane HV-district 11: RRF Archery
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Trøndelag HV-district 12: RRF Rype
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Sør-Hålogaland HV-district 14: RRF Heron
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Nord-Hålogaland HV-district 16: RRF Claymore
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Finnmark HV-district 17: RRF Ida & Lyra and Delfin
The Naval branch of the Home Guard used to be four RRFs. but the Norwegian government closed the units down in 2017 due to saving costs.
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South: RRF Bundle
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West: RRF Salamander
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North: RRFs Waxwing and Anklet
The Rapid Reaction Forces consists of several different platoons within each district. In this way, each district will be able to respond to any kind of incident that could occur, without having to rely on outside help. Each district (with some variations) will have trained operators in these different types of units:
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Jegertropp (Ranger platoon)
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Skarpskyttertropp (Sniper platoon)
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MP-tjeneste (Military Police platoon)
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Hundetjenesten (K9 unit)
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Stabstropp (Staff platoon – (S-1, to S-4), transport & logistics)
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Sambandstropp (Signal platoon)
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Dykkerlag (Diving team – Underwater reconnaissance, explosives-detection)
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Sanitetstropp (Medical platoon)
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Innsatstropper (Infantry platoons)
a Light Mechanized unit has been established in district's 12, 14 and 16. this one is called Multi-Troppen (Multi Platoon). These platoons handle the custom made Geländewagen 290 multi III and is the speartip of the RRF's.
Founded December 6, 1946;
Size 40,000;
Motto(s) Overalt - alltid (Everywhere - always);
Equipment
Norwegian Cyber Defence Force
Cyberforsvaret
The Norwegian Cyber Defence Force is a branch of the Norwegian Armed Forces responsible for military communications and defensive cyberwarfare in Norway. The force employs 1,500 people located at more than 60 locations. The main base is at Jørstadmoen in Lillehammer, with a secondary base at Kolsås outside Oslo. The Cyber Defence was established as its own branch on 18 September 2012.
Equipment
