Minister says aim to maintain spend while boosing rapid reaction forces and UAVs
Norway has announced a further round of rationalisation to its armed forces under a new Nkr118 billion ($17.6 billion) defence plan covering the period 2005-8.
Outlining a policy of maintaining spending at around Nkr29.5 billion a year, defence minister Kristin Krøhn Devold says efficiency savings in operating costs and logistics will free up at least Nkr2 billion a year by 2008, boosting funding for equipment acquisitions and international operations by almost 30%.
Increased emphasis will be placed on the availability of rapid reaction forces, and a deployable intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance unit equipped with unmanned air vehicles will be established. A project office is close to selecting a tactical UAV for the Norwegian armed forces, and future work will also lead to the introduction of a medium-altitude long-endurance system.
Norway will also boost its ability to deploy and support special forces personnel through the establishment of an air wing equipped with six Bell 412SPs from the air force's 720 Squadron.
Other new equipment to be introduced under the four-year spending plan includes 14 NH Industries NH90 transport helicopters - six to operate from the Royal Norwegian Navy's frigates and eight to replace the coastguard's Westland Lynx helicopters.
The Royal Norwegian Air Force's base rationalisation process will continue, with five mobilisation airfields to close by 2008. However, its frontline strength of 48 Lockheed Martin F-16 Mid-Life Update aircraft assigned to three squadrons will be retained, with a further nine to be held as attrition replacements. Intermediate level maintenance on the aircraft will be moved from Ørland to Bodø.
Operations of Norway's NASAMS air defence batteries will be rationalised and centred at Ørland. One battery will be made available for overseas deployment, a second held as a mobilisation battery and a third disbanded.
The Norwegian defence ministry says logistics savings will be achieved through "improvements in efficiency, multinational collaboration, mobile logistic solutions and a range of private/public partnership arrangements".
Operating costs will also be cut by Nkr900 million a year by 2008 through improvements in efficiency and cost-saving measures.
Norway has also stated its continued intention to participate in joint NATO initiatives to enhance collective capabilities in strategic airlift and air-to-air refuelling.
CRAIG HOYLE / LONDON
Source: Flight International
