Armée norvegienne/Norwegian Armed Forces

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date de 2006..

L'exercice personnel de Utrykningsenhet (UEH) de la police de la Norvège.

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Norway’s defence minister says Russia has re-opened bases in its far north that have been shut since the cold war


Norway’s defence minister has said her country’s armed forces will be restructured so they can respond faster to what she called increased Russian aggression.

Ine Eriksen Soreide said that Russia had recently re-opened military bases in its far north that had been shut down after the cold war, and that there had also been an increase in flights by Russian warplanes close to Norwegian airspace.

“We have seen in the first couple of months of this year a certain increase compared to the same period last year and ... an increased complexity. We see they fly longer, they fly with more different kinds of airplanes and their patterns are different than they used to be,” Soreide told the Guardian during a visit to London.

“They have not breached our territory and that is different from what is happening in the Baltic Sea area. They are breaching territory there all the time and in the Baltic area they have also seen three times as many flights as normal or usual,” she added.

Soreide said Norway was stepping up military cooperation with the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – as a means of reassuring them that they were fully covered by Nato’s collective security umbrella. Furthermore, Norway was “absolutely” ready to expand training of Ukrainian soldiers, she said, predicting that more Nato states would follow the British example of dispatching trainers and non-lethal equipment to support Ukraine.

“On the political level I think it is important to define what we are seeing, that this is aggression – whether you see it as cyber threats or information campaign and conventional warfare, it is aggression what they are doing in Ukraine. And I think it’s important to say this, and that we do not accept this towards Nato countries,” the defence minister said.

http://www.theguardian.com

L'armee norvegienne reçoit ses nouveaux CV90-30

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The Royal Norwegian Army has received its first series-produced improved BAE Systems CV9030 infantry fighting vehicle.

BAE Systems is under contract to upgrade 103 existing Norwegian CV90s and build an additional 41 for a total fleet of 144 under a programme understood to be worth USD500 million.

The improved CV9030 for Norway includes armour protection enhancements, digital electronic architecture, improved situational awareness systems, and a remote weapon station, among other changes. Five CV90 variants are on order for Norway, with all the vehicles set to be delivered by 2018.

The handover of the first series-produced vehicle on 24 February follows the handover of the first two pre-series vehicles on 25 February 2014. These vehicles underwent extensive trials before series production began in January at BAE Systems Hägglunds new CV90 production line in Sweden.
http://www.janes.com/article/49623/norway-s-improved-cv90s-start-rolling-off-the-production-line

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Bilan de la défense norvégienne et de ses capacités


Stratégie et politique  12 mars 2015  


Entretien avec Hakon Lunde Saxi, chercheur au Centre pour la sécurité norvégienne et européenne (unité de l’Institut norvégien des études de défense).

– Comment la Norvège réagit-elle au réarmement russe et à la politique du président Poutine ?

Les gens prennent la question de la sécurité nationale très au sérieux, l’état d’esprit a beaucoup changé si on le compare à celui d’avant l’annexion de la Crimée. Depuis, la ministre de la Défense, Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, a demandé au CEMA son avis sur un plan de défense à long terme en lui donnant carte blanche ou presque, notamment sur la hausse du budget consacré à ce domaine.

Pour la ministre, il n’est plus question d’un retour au statu quo ante : Moscou n’est plus un partenaire. Il existe un consensus assez large sur le sujet en Norvège. La Russie n’est pas pour autant considérée comme une menace militaire directe pour notre pays. Et le dialogue n’a pas été complètement rompu. Nous avons gardé des lignes ouvertes avec l’armée russe dans la région de Mourmansk (limitrophe de la Norvège, au-delà du Cercle arctique). La coopération transfrontalière est maintenue par le biais du Conseil de la mer de Barents. Rappelons qu’historiquement, les deux pays ont entretenu de bonnes relations.

Néanmoins, le budget norvégien de la défense augmentera d’environ 3,4% cette année par rapport à 2014. La Première ministre, la conservatrice Erna Solberg, a tout de même indiqué que, durant son mandat (jusqu’à l’automne 2017), la part allouée à la Défense dans le budget national n’atteindrait pas l’objectif des 2% du PIB (prévu par l’Otan). Pour l’instant, il est de 1,6%.

– Quel est l’état des forces armées norvégiennes et qu’en est-il de leur participation à des opérations à l’étranger ?

Elles ont participé à la gestion de multiples crises à l’étranger avec, depuis 2001, un accent mis sur l’Afghanistan. Dans l’ensemble, le consensus sur leur utilisation dans ce type d’opération est étonnamment large. Les Norvégiens en sont assez fiers. Nos forces armées n’en restent pas moins assez réduites. Le pays ne peut pas envoyer plus d’un bataillon complet en opération à l’étranger. Et celui-ci ne peut pas être relevé régulièrement, ce serait un trop gros fardeau pour la Défense.

Dans l’ensemble, ces forces jouissent d’une excellente réputation, même si elles occupent plutôt des niches. En Libye, par exemple, les F-16 norvégiens ont lâché quelque 560 bombes en atteignant leurs cibles. Les deux unités des forces spéciales (armée de terre et marine) travaillent bien ensemble et leurs contributions en Afghanistan ont été très appréciées par les Américains.

C’est désormais le bataillon Telemark qui a été placé en attente d’une participation, cette année, à la nouvelle Force opérationnelle interarmées à très haut niveau de préparation (VJTF), en compagnie de troupes allemandes et néerlandaises.

Depuis le retrait de l’ISAF d’Afghanistan, la pression sur les forces norvégiennes est moindre. Nous avons plus de capacités en stand-by pour ce genre d’opérations hors de nos frontières. Mais si elles devaient participer à d’importantes opérations appelées à durer dans le temps, cela pourrait devenir problématique, étant donné nos propres besoins territoriaux. Nous avons ainsi vu que, contrairement au Danemark, la Norvège a décidé de ne pas participer aux opérations contre l’Etat islamique en Irak. Elle ne pensait pas pouvoir le faire tout en maintenant un degré de disponibilité suffisante sur son territoire. Nos F-16 sont vieillissants, ils ont davantage besoin d’être entretenus qu’avant. De plus, ils sont indispensables pour affirmer la souveraineté du pays face aux activités russes dans notre voisinage immédiat. Sur les 60 appareils disponibles, environ 48 sont censés être opérationnels.

– La défense norvégienne a lourdement investi ces dernières années, pouvez-vous détailler ?

Environ 20% du budget de la Défense va à l’achat de nouveaux équipements. Ces dernières années, Oslo a commandé en Suède un lot supplémentaire de véhicules de combat d’infanterie CV 90. Cinq frégates Nansen ont été livrées par un chantier espagnol et sont désormais opérationnelles, même si elles ne sont pas encore toutes entièrement équipées et que les hélicoptères prévus font encore défaut. Maintenir des équipages et faire tourner ces navires coûte très cher. Je dirais que le nombre de frégates vraiment opérationnelles est plus proche de deux que de cinq. Pour peu qu’une d’entre elles soit envoyée en mission au large des côtes africaines, comme cela a déjà été le cas, il n’en reste qu’une seule pour surveiller les eaux norvégiennes. Mais cela ira en s’améliorant.

– Quel sera l’impact de la chute des cours du pétrole sur la défense norvégienne ?

Je ne m’attends pas à d’importantes coupes dans le budget de la Défense, au moins à court terme. Seulement 10% environ du budget total de la Norvège provient du pétrole. Et le pays peut toujours compter sur son immense fonds souverain. Mais le coût d’investissements militaires à venir pourrait représenter un défi dans un futur moins proche. La Norvège s’est lancée dans un programme d’achat de 52 avions F-35 JSF pour un montant équivalant à un budget et demi annuel consacré à la Défense, soit environ 2% du PIB. De plus, elle a prévu de se doter de cinq à six nouveaux sous-marins pour un total de 20 milliards de couronnes au minimum (2,3 milliards d’euros).

– Y a-t-il une volonté en Norvège de participer à la défense européenne ou aux coopérations avec des pays européens ?

Bien que le pays ne soit pas membre de l’Union européenne, il prend davantage part à la coopération sur la sécurité et la défense que certains Etats membres. La Norvège participe activement aux travaux de l’Agence européenne de défense. Elle est impliquée dans le Nordic Battle Group (NBG) de la Force de réaction rapide de l’UE. Cela dit, l’Union ne figure pas en haut de l’agenda norvégien dans le domaine de la défense, parce que rien de solide n’émerge vraiment de ce côté-là. Pour la Norvège, l’Otan reste l’élément décisif et il est très important pour elle de s’assurer que l’article 5 du traité de l’Alliance est bien pris au sérieux par tous ses membres. D’où «l’initiative du voisinage proche» lancée en 2008 par Oslo. On estimait alors que l’Otan ne se concentrait pas assez sur le territoire de ses membres. Nous étions un peu en avance sur notre temps…

– Quelle est la stratégie du pays en Arctique ?

La Norvège s’est appliquée depuis 2005 à y être très présente pour éviter que cette zone ne soit perçue comme un immense espace vide et disponible. La Russie a beaucoup renforcé son dispositif militaire dans la région, bien que la situation n’ait pas changé de manière significative depuis 2007. La légalité internationale des frontières n’est pas vraiment contestée, comme nous l’avons montré dans un rapport que nous venons d’achever, Geopolitics of the High North. Mais il faut maintenant s’assurer que la crise entre l’Ukraine et la Russie n’ait pas de conséquences jusqu’en Arctique. Le degré de confiance réciproque est faible et de plus en plus d’avions de chasse et bombardiers survolent la région.


http://www.ttu.fr/bilan-de-la-defense-norvegienne-et-de-ses-capacites/

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PICTURE: First Norwegian F-35 takes shape


By: Craig HoyleLondon
Source: Flightglobal.com

Lockheed Martin is moving closer to delivering an F-35 to its fifth customer nation, with Norway’s first example having had its three fuselage sections joined on 9 April.

Currently on the final assembly line in Fort Worth, Texas, aircraft AM-1 will now have its control surfaces added, along with other systems and its Pratt & Whitney F135 engine.


Lockheed Martin

“AM-1 is due to roll out of the factory later this year, alongside sister ship AM-2,” says Lockheed. “A third aircraft is also in its early stages of production, and will roll out next year.”

Oslo is committed to acquiring up to 52 conventional take-off and landing F-35As, including an initial four to be dedicated to training tasks. The Royal Norwegian Air Force will start preparing its pilots to fly the model at an international training facility at Luke AFB, Arizona.

Lockheed has so far delivered F-35s to the three US armed services, plus the air forces of Australia, the Netherlands and the UK. Italy’s first aircraft was also rolled out from a final assembly and check out facility at Cameri air base on 12 March.


http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-first-norwegian-f-35-takes-shape-411490/

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Norway to deploy F-16s for Baltic air policing


Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly



Norway is top send four of its F-16AM fighters to the Baltic region for a four month roation, starting in May. Source: IHS/Patrick Allen  


The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) is to send four of its Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft to participate in the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission from May, national media said on 23 March.

The F-16AM fighters will deploy from their homebase at Ørland to either Siauliai Airbase in Lithuania or Malbork in Poland, from where they will undertake air policing in partnership with three other nations for four months (besides the Norwegian F-16s, it has also been disclosed that four Eurofighter Typhoons of the UK Royal Air Force will be based at Amari Airbase in Estonia for the mission).

As well as sending its combat aircraft and 70 pilots and support personnel to the region, the RNoAF will also dispatch three liaison officers to the Karmelava military base in Lithuania, according to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).

The Baltic Air Policing Mission began in 2004 as a temporary measure to safeguard the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania until they developed their own air defence capabilities. However, in 2012 NATO declared the mission to be permanent.

The mission is currently in its 37th rotation, led by four Italian Air Force Typhoons at Siauliai Airbase; and supported by four Polish MiG-29 'Fulcrum' fighters at the same location; four Spanish Typhoons at Amari Airbase; and four Belgian Lockheed Martin F-16s at Malbork. To date, 16 NATO nations have taken part in the mission.

The 'enhanced' Baltic Air Policing Mission now being undertaken was stood up in May 2014 in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea and the crisis with Ukraine, and will continue to at least the end of 2015.

http://www.janes.com/article/50899/norway-to-deploy-f-16s-for-baltic-air-policing

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PHOTOS:

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Norway selects Extenda patrol vehicles

Nick Brown, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

06 May 2015


Norway's HMT Extendas are likely to be similar to the Australian version, shown here in Afghanistan. Source: Supacat  


The Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation (NDLO) has ordered a batch of HMT Extenda vehicles from Supacat.

Supacat was tight-lipped about the deal, noting that it was worth GBP23 million (USD35 million), but refusing to disclose the number of vehicles concerned or any Norway-specific modifications. IHS Jane's understands that the vehicles are likely to feature a number of detail changes, such as a left-hand drive configuration and a range of existing Supacat production options, such as a central tyre inflation system.

The NDLO was also unable to immediately provide any further details.

Extenda is a variant of the vehicle platform adopted by the British Army as the 4x4 Jackal and 6x6 Coyote. It was also selected in Extenda form for the Australian Army's Project JP2097 Phase 1B (Redfin) requirement. The Extenda's third axle and cargo hamper is housed in a separate module that can be bolted on or removed from the 4x4 base in a couple of hours, trading mobility and payload with agility as required.

The open vehicle is typically used for scout, patrol and special forces-type roles, which are currently fulfilled in Norwegian service, mostly by Mercedes-Benz G-wagen variants.

IHS Jane's understands that the Norwegian requirement has been active for at least the last two years, with a contract only signed in late April 2015.

According to Supacat, the first vehicles will be delivered in a 'pre-series' configuration in 2016, with the remaining vehicles following from 2017 to 2019, final outfitting being carried out by a local partner in Norway. That partner - yet to be disclosed - will then likely be involved in supporting the vehicles throughout their service life.

The contract includes an option to double the Extenda fleet.  


http://www.janes.com/article/51197/norway-selects-extenda-patrol-vehicles

Norway - AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder Missiles

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WASHINGTON, May 13, 2015 – The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Norway for AIM 9X Block II Sidewinder Missiles and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $345 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on May 12.
The Government of Norway has requested a possible sale of up to 200 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder Tactical Missiles, 2 AIM-9X Special Air Training Missiles (NATMs), 40 CATM-9X Block II Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs), 10 AIM-9X Block II Tactical Guidance Units, and 20 AIM-9X Block II CATM Guidance Units, containers, support and test equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor logistics and technical support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $345 million.

http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/norway-aim-9x-block-ii-sidewinder-missiles

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BAE Systems has delivered 12 new upgraded CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicles to Norwegian Army.

BAE Systems has delivered 12 new CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) to the Norwegian Army. They are the first production batch of a total of 144 new and upgraded CV90s planned for the nation’s Armyand represent the next generation of advanced combat vehicles.

The delivery of the CV90s occurred on schedule and took place during a ceremony at the Setermoen Military Camp in North-Norway. The event was attended by several BAE Systems representatives, includingErwin Bieber, president of the company’s Platforms & Services sector, as well as Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, president of BAE Systems Hägglunds AB.

“The delivery of these vehicles on schedule and within cost illustrates the highly collaborative, robust relationship between the Norwegian authorities, BAE Systems and its Norwegian industry partners,” said Gustafsson-Rask. “We look forward to sustaining that relationship as we continue to carry out this contractover many years to come.”

The Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation and BAE Systems signed a contract in June 2012 for the production of the 41 new vehicles as well as upgrades to 103 of the Army’s existing fleet of CV9030s. The upgrades include enhanced capabilities for protection, survivability, situational awareness, intelligence, and interoperability.


The IFV program is a key part of the Norwegian military’s ongoing modernization. The CV90 is a next generation combat vehicle, one of the most advanced in the world, and is also a mature, proven, and cost-effective solution.


“We are very proud of giving our soldiers the best IFV in the world. It is thanks to a close and intensive cooperation with BAE Systems Hägglunds and with Norwegian industry for several years that led to this delivery,” said Colonel RagnarWennevik, the Norwegian Army’s CV90 project leader. “We received the CV90s exactly on the date we wrote into the contract more than three years ago and that is something that we are very pleased with. BAE Systems Hägglunds is a good partner and we hope we can continue to develop the relationship during the many years of use for the CV90 fleet.”

The 144 vehicles are designed to operate in five configurations, 74 for infantry fighting, 21 for reconnaissance, 15 for command and control, 16 for engineering support, 16 in a multi-role configuration, and two for driver training.

BAE Systems Hägglunds developed a comprehensive partnership with Norwegian industry to develop, produce, and deliver these vehicles. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, NammoRaufoss AS, CHSnor AS, Moelv, and Ritek AS Levanger are among the companies playing a key role in delivering on the contract.

“Our industrial cooperation in Norway is extensive and critical, especially when collaboration across industry is a major factor for international success,” said Gustafsson-Rask.







http://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/bae_systems_has_delivered_12_new_upgraded_cv90_infantry_fighting_vehicles_to_norwegian_army_10309151.html

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La Norvège dit étudier la proposition polonaise visant à mutualiser l’achat de sous-marins


Posté dans Europe, Forces navales par Laurent Lagneau Le 10-09-2015



Le 6 septembre, le vice-ministre polonais de la Défense, Czeslaw Mroczek, a indiqué que Varsovie envisageait de mutualiser l’achat de ses trois futurs sous-marins avec un, voire deux, pays de l’Otan. Et de citer deux candidats potentiels pour cette opération : la Norvège et les Pays-Bas.

A priori, le ministère néerlandais de la Défense n’a pas réagi, pour le moment, à cette idée, laquelle a en revanche été bien accueillie par la Norvège, qui a indiqué l’étudier de près.

Dans un communiqué, la Défense norvégienne rappelle qu’il a été décidé de ne pas prolonger la vie opérationnelle de ses 6 sous-marins de la classe Ula qu’elle met en oeuvre depuis plus de 25 ans et que leur maintenance est de plus en plus coûteuse. D’où le lancement d’un projet, actuellement en phase de définition, visant à acquérir de nouveaux submersibles. « Une recommandation sera présentée au gouvernement en 2016″, précise-t-elle.

Pour autant, il n’est pas question pour Oslo de concevoir une nouvelle classe de sous-marins localement. Les prochains devront déjà exister afin de réduire « les risques et les coûts » qu’impliqueraient le développement de tels navires. Cela étant, le « gouvernement norvégien utilisera l’achat de nouveaux sous-marins comme une opportunité pour l’industrie norvégienne de la défense ». En clair, il faudra y associer des acteurs locaux pour espérer remporter le marché.

La « coopération dans le domaine des futurs sous-marins pourrait être très bénéfique pour réaliser des économies d’échelle », estime par ailleurs le ministère norvégien de la Défense. D’où son intérêt pour « trouver des partenaires pour une « coopération étendue ».

Bien évidemment, pour que cela soit possible, il faut qu’il y ait un maximum de convergences entre les partenaires, à commencer par des exigences communes et un calendrier d’acquisition » synchronisé ». Et « des solutions communes en matière de logistique et de maintenance seront également considérées comme faisant partie d’une vaste coopération », avance Oslo.

Et, apparemment, la Pologne a toutes les qualités requises par la Norvège pour une telle coopération. « Les exigences polonaises dans le domaine des sous-marins sont similaires » aux nôtres explique le communiqué de la Défense norvégienne.

Pour rappel, la marine polonaise souhaite pouvoir armer ses futurs sous-marins de missiles de croisières. Son homologue norvégienne aurait donc les mêmes exigences. Cet élément peut être un atout de taille pour le français DCNS, qui, l’an passé, a justement proposé à Varsovie son sous-marin Scorpène, doté du Missile de Croisière Naval (MdCN) de MBDA.

Un autre élément qui peut jouer pour DCNS est sa proximité avec le chantier naval UMOE Mandal et le groupe Kingsberg Defence & Aerospace, avec lesquels il a mené à bien le programme de patrouilleurs rapides Skjold, destinés à la marine norvégienne.

http://www.opex360.com/2015/09/10/la-norvege-dit-etudier-la-proposition-polonaise-visant-mutualiser-lachat-de-marins/

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Nordkapp upgrade contract [DSEi15D1]

15 September 2015

Sagem has won a competition to supply a modernised navigation system for the Norwegian Coast Guard’s three Nordkapp-class offshore patrol vessels. Each vessel will be fitted with a SIGMA 40 laser gyro inertial navigation system.

The contract further consolidates Sagem’s 20-year partnership on navigation systems with Norway. The company’s SIGMA 40XP system was previously selected for the modernisation of the Royal Norwegian Navy’s six Ula-class submarines.

SIGMA 40 navigation systems are fitted on more than 500 surface naval vessels and 75 submarines.



http://www.janes.com/article/54268/nordkapp-upgrade-contract-dsei15d1

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JSM sub launched update

Alex Pape, Kiel, Germany - IHS Jane's Missiles & Rockets
16 September 2015



Norway's Kongsberg outlined additional features and the possible path ahead for its proposed submarine-launched variant of the Naval Strike Missile (and Nytt Sjomalsmissile: NSM) at the Subcon 2015 conference on submarine technology organised by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) in Kiel, Germany, every four years.

The development of a submarine-launched variant was first reported by IHS Jane's in early 2013, and a mock-up was noted at exhibitions and company presentations in mid-2014.

The sub-surface launched variant is currently being developed by industry as a self-funded project, said Kongberg's Jarle Naess, and aims to provide submarines with a long-range, stand-off strike capability, including in denied environments where the (otherwise network enabled) missile will rely on its stealthy design, dual-mode passive infrared sensor, and autonomous target recognition, in particular.

The company aims to develop the missile in parallel to the Royal Norwegian Navy's (RNoN's) future submarine project, which does not yet include a requirement for this kind of capability; however, it is expected to at least be fitted for it.

The pre-development phase is currently projected to take around four to five years, through to around 2020. "This will include work to define requirements, define sub-system requirements, and some design and prototyping activity," noted Naess.

This would be followed by a four-year development phase around 2020-24, integration efforts in the 2024-26 timeframe, and initial operational capability in the 2026-28 timeframe (again matching the projected RNoN submarine timeline).

At present Kongsberg is partnered with Babcock, which is looking at the weapon integration aspects and development of the underwater launch capsule; Nammo will be tasked with booster section development. Kongsberg has now also partnered with TKMS, whose submarine exports may provide an important conduit for sales of the new missile.

The missile itself is to be adapted from the air-launched Joint Strike Missile (JSM) variant, which features a number of modifications compared with the NSM on account of being designed to fit into the internal weapons bay of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, including a longer, re-shaped fuselage, and Williams F107 turbojet engine.



http://www.janes.com/article/54343/jsm-sub-launched-update

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Norway, Australia Team To Upgrade Missile for F-35
By Lara Seligman 7:04 p.m. EDT September 21, 2015



FORT WORTH, Texas — Norway and Australia have minted a deal to develop a new seeker capability for the Joint Strike Missile, a core weapon planned for integration onto Norway's F-35.

Under the Sept. 15 agreement, Australia will finance the development of a new RF-seeking capability, which will enable the missile to locate targets based on electronic signature. BAE Australia will develop and integrate the capability, according to a Sept. 21 statement from Norway's Ministry of Defense.

If Australia later decides to procure the JSM, developed by Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence Systems, Norway and Australia will share the cost of integrating the JSM on the F-35.

The new seeker will provide JSM dual-seeker capability, which enables the missile to operate in all weather conditions, Executive Vice President of Kongsberg Group and President of KDS Harald Ånnestad told Defense News on Monday. Kongsberg expects the announcement to fuel increased interest in the JSM from other international partners, he said.

This marks the first time another nation has discussed the possibility of covering some of the costs related to the JSM, the Sept. 21 statement reads.

JSM is a long-range, precision-guided missile that will be carried internally in the F-35. The current seeker being developed for the missile is based on a technology known as "imaging infra red" that enables the missile to detect and identify targets based on heat signature, according to the statement.

JSM will be integrated on Norway's F-35 in the first phase of follow-on development in the 2022-2024 time frame.

"This agreement is a prime example of instances where two nations, each bringing their own specialties and skills to the table, are able to build a better system by working together compared to what they could have done on their own," Norwegian Minister of Defence Ine Eriksen Søreide said, according to the statement. "This, in a nutshell, is what the F-35 partnership is all about and it is an important example of the kind of positive ripple effects the program helps generate beyond the aircraft themselves."

Email: lseligman@defensenews.com



http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/strike/2015/09/21/norway-australia-team-to-develop-missile-for-f-35/72590888/

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First F-35 for Norway rolled out at Fort Worth

Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
21 September 2015







The first of 52 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft for Norway was rolled out during a ceremony at the company's Fort Worth production facility in Texas on 22 September.

The roll-out of aircraft AM-1, which was built as part of the low-rate initial production (LRIP) 7 production lot, marks the first step in a process that will see the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) replace its 55 Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM fleet with 52 F-35As by the end of 2024.

Once ground and flight trials have been completed, AM-1 will be retained in the United States for pilot training as part of the international fleet at Luke Air Force Base (AFB) in Arizona before being delivered to Norway in 2017 (the first three Norwegian aircraft will be based in the US in the first instance). The country's second aircraft - AM-2 - is in production also and is set to be rolled out shortly.

Norway joined the F-35 programme as a Tier 3 partner during the project's system development and demonstration (SDD) phase. It selected the type in November 2008, and currently has 22 of its planned 52 aircraft funded. Further funding and procurement contracts will be signed on annually.



The RNoAF aircraft will feature the structural provisions for a drag chute, which will be fitted inside a missioned pod located on the rear fuselage. This modification will better enable the aircraft to come to a halt on Norway's icy runways during its long winter. The service plans to base its F-35As at Orland Air Base in central Norway, with Bodo Air Base scheduled to be closed with the retirement of the F-16s.

Further to the RNoAF-requested drag chute modification, Norwegian industry is heavily involved in the F-35 programme, which is expected to be worth up to USD4.7 billion to the national economy over its lifetime.

Want to read more? For analysis on this article and access to all our insight content, please enquire about our subscription options ihs.com/contact

http://www.janes.com/article/54707/first-f-35-for-norway-rolled-out-at-fort-worth

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Norwegian Government Faces Defense Ultimatum
(Source: Norway Broadcasting Corp.; NRK; posted Sept 24, 2015)

(Posted in Norwegian; edited translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)




Chief of Defence gives Defense Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide the choice between increasing the defense budget by 9 billion krone a year or losing the ability to defend Norway against armed attack.


Later this week, on Oct. 1, Norwegian Chief of Defense Admiral Haakon Bruun-Hanssen will deliver his “Professional Military Advice” to the defence minister. This document will be an important foundation for the Parliamentary debate on the future of the Norwegian armed forces over the next 20 years. Parliament is to issue a long-term report of the subject next year.

The Devil's Alternative

NRK, Norway’s public broadcaster, has obtained the latest draft of the "Chief of Defence Professional Military Advice in 2015" report, which is still classified and confidential. It presents the chief of the government with a dramatic choice.

Defence Chief Bruun-Hansen writes that Norway must spend an additional 180 billion kroner ($21.1 billion) on defense over the next 20 years compared to current plans if it is to maintain and modernize its defense at today’s level.

On average, this means an additional 9 billion kroner each year, but in fact the amount will increase gradually. The defense budget is currently set at about 43 billion kroner per year.

Without such an increase, deep capability cuts will be unavoidable - and defense will lack essential equipment to fight a modern war.

Main Consequences

Below are some of the most important consequences if the cheapest of the two funding models to be presented by the Chief of Defence. This proposal is based on continuing the current defense funding for the next 20 years - adjusted only for inflation and higher personnel pay:

-- The army would cut two battle-ready battalions – to the lowest capability level since Norway became independent in 1905. Most dramatically, we would have to retire all our heavy tanks and artillery. Two battalions would not get any antiaircraft weapons.

-- The navy will lose all of its submarines and corvettes. The Coast Guard would be reduced by two vessels, from 15 to 13. The only ships that the Navy would retain are the five new frigates that have just been put into service, plus logistics vessels and container based demining equipment.

-- The air force would get only 38 new F-35 fighters, as well as four more used for training. This is 10 fewer than the 48 currently planned. The P-3 Orion surveillance and anti-submarine aircraft would be retired, and long-range anti-aircraft defense would not be acquired

-- The King's Guard, as we know it today, would be reduced to a small force, concentrating on guarding the royal castle, parades and marching band activities.

-- The Home Guard would be cut by 12,000 soldiers. One Home Guard district and the Naval Home Guard would be shut down.

A large number of smaller departments and installations would also disappear in this proposal.

The document confirms a number of leaks that appeared earlier this summer, and reported by NRK and the website aldrimer.no.

A "very real risk"

In his report, Chief of Defence warns that this "will leave obvious weaknesses in Norway's defense capability. Military strategies and tactics are most often based on exploiting such weaknesses in opponents. We must therefore assume that the risk borne by reducing defense capability is very real. "

Defense expert and former Chief of Staff of the Navy, Jacob Børresen, read NRK’s copy of the Chief of Defence’s draft report. He says he is not surprised by the contents.

“We who have followed this all know that the consequences of continuing the current budget framework is to liquidate defense over a period of 10 to 15 years. The Chief of Defense’s low-end proposal confirms precisely that,” he says.

Several key defense sources told NRK that they believe the Chief of Defence’s low-cost option will be so devastating for Norway's ability to defend itself that it will be politically impossible for Defence Minister Eriksen Søreide to accept.

Unable to Carry Out the Mission

“I cannot understand the defense chief's recommendations other than as a warning. He cannot believe that his proposal, based on a continuation of current defense spending levels, will really be implemented,” says Børresen.

Will the defense be able to do the job they are set to do at that level?

“Absolutely not. This defense will be completely unable to carry out all the missions that the Armed Forces today are required to by Parliament. So, if Parliament were to adopt this structure, it would also have to simultaneously adopt an entirely new defense concept. We would no longer have any credible defense against an armed attack.”

That leaves the second proposal made by defense chief Bruun-Hanssen, and which recommends a substantial increase in the defense budget - an increase which must be continued for the next 20 years.

The reason for this proposal is a longstanding, serious concern –- tinged with irritation -- in the armed forces leadership because they believe that politicians for years have allowed the real value of the defense budgets to fall. Central defense experts spearheaded by former defense chief Sverre Diesen have long argued that politicians have decided defense capabilities that they have not been willing to pay for.

Even if we spend as much on defense as we have done since the Cold War, they believe that the price of military equipment has increased so much that much more money is needed to pay for it. But this is not the case: When the Cold War ended Norway spent almost 3 percent of gross domestic product on defense, while today we have about 1.4 percent.

“I think it will weigh heavily in favor of getting permanent budget increases for defense. But if it were to happen it must be done carefully and over time. To increase defense budget by 9 billion overnight will only lead to the new money not being absorbed by the military in a reasonable way,” says Jacob Børresen.

Stop the downsizing of the Armed Forces

If, over the next 20 years, the Armed Forces obtain 180 billion kroner on top of the current budget, writes the defense chief, we will get a "sober national defense that can carry out the most important and demanding missions."

But despite this extra money, according to Bruun-Hanssen, the Armed Forces will have "little or no resilience over time, and will depend on reinforcements arriving after a relatively short time." He believes that his proposal would halt the downsizing of the Armed Forces that has lasted since the Cold War ended.

Extortion Tactics

SV Deputy Bård Vegar Solhjell, a member of Parliament’s Defense Committee, is one of those that is involved with the “professional military advice” of the Chief of Defence. He says he will be disappointed if the Chief of Defense delivers a report with only two sharply different alternatives.

“I have not seen the document, but I believe that it would be completely arbitrary to say to the politicians that they must choose between massive budget growth or disaster. I think reason lies somewhere in between. Developing good defense policy is choosing between the many individual proposals so the whole works. And we politicians must resist this attempt to put us under duress by using blackmail tactics,” he says.

Solhjell points out that Norway is one of the countries in NATO which spends the most money on defense per capita.

“I am concerned that Norway should have a good, modern defense that can safeguard our sovereignty. But given the situation in Europe’s economic crisis, with rising unemployment and social problems, we should concentrate on solving these problems rather than to compete to spend a lot on defense. It would also be good security policy,” he said.

Defence Chief Bruun-Hanssen also lists, by order of priority, the five things he would spend money on if the government allocates more money than he asks for. There is reason to believe that these are the things he thought were difficult to remove from the proposal:
-- Maritime patrol aircraft that can fight submarines. (The Orion aircraft disappear in the current proposal).
-- Six submarines instead of four. (Two submarines disappear in the current proposal).
-- An additional brigade of the Army.
-- New helicopters for the Army. (Army helicopters are transferred to southern Norway in the current proposal).
-- More precision weapons.

The document from the Chief of Defence is now circulating for consultation within the Armed Forces. There may still be changes as a result of last-minute inputs, but several sources told NRK that it would take a lot for the main lines to be significantly changed.

The document will be handed over to the defense minister on Thursday of next week, October 1.

Defense expert Jacob Børresen has little faith that the armed forces’ financial problems will be solved. “I'm afraid that politicians do not have the will to allocate more to defense - and that they do not have the courage or the stomach to take the necessary steps to bring the force structure into balance. And thus problems will just be pushed off into the future, while the military sinks lower and lower. That is my main fear,” he says.

A spokesperson for the Chief of Defence, Major Vegard Finberg, said he will wait until the Chief of Defense's report is handed over to the defense minister before saying anything about the contents.

“The military do not comment on details of the ongoing work for the Chief of Defence ‘professional military advice,’ but we will return to the overall professional military advice when it is completed 1 October 2015,” he said.



http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/feature/5/167225/crunch-time-for-norway%E2%80%99s-defense-spending.html

Citation :

Un hélicoptère NH-90 norvégien teste son système de guerre électronique en France

28 Septembre 2015

Rédigé par Loïc et publié depuis Overblog


Un hélicoptère NH-90 norvégien teste son système de guerre électronique en France


EXCLUSIF !

Du 21 Septembre au 16 Octobre 2015, un hélicoptère NH-90NFH de la Marine Royale Norvégienne est au centre de la Direction Générale de l'Armement "Maîtrise de l'information", situé à proximité de la ville de Bruz, dans le département de l’Ille-et-Vilaine (Bretagne).

Selon mes informations, cet hélicoptère a été envoyé dans ce centre français afin d'effectuer des mesures de performances de ses équipements de guerre électronique.

En effet, selon le site officiel de la Direction Général de l'Armement ce centre est spécialisé, entre autres, pour "l'évaluation des performances de systèmes d'armes, de guerre électronique et de guerre optronique".

Ce centre a notamment vu passer de nombreux aéronefs, dont certains français, comme le Mirage 2000, le Rafale, et plus récemment, le drone de démonstration nEUROn.


Photos : (c) Sylvain Gourheu - Arrivée du NH-90NFH norvégien sur l'aéroport de Rennes (LFRN, code OACI).

http://www.defens-aero.com/2015/09/helicoptere-nh-90-norvegien-teste-systeme-guerre-electronique-france.html?utm_source=_ob_share&utm_medium=_ob_twitter&utm_campaign=_ob_share_auto

Citation :

La Norvège va augmenter ses dépenses militaires de 9,8%


Posté dans Europe par Laurent Lagneau Le 14-10-2015

C’est un effort conséquent en faveur de ses forces armées que la Norvège entend faire en 2016. En effet, Oslo a récemment présenté un projet de budget qui prévoit une hausse de 9,8% des dépenses militaires du pays.

Ainsi, et sous réserve que ce projet de budget soit validé par le Parlement, le budget militaire norvégien devrait s’établir à 5.245 milliards d’euros, en hausse de 460 millions par rapport à 2015. L’effort de défense ce pays nordique serait ainsi de l’ordre de 1,54% de son PIB.

Dans le détail, les programmes d’équipement se verront allouer 1,32 milliards d’euros de crédits. Et 343,5 millions seront affectés aux infrastructures.

Cette hausse des crédits va dans le sens de l’amiral Haakon Bruun-Hanssen, le chef d’état-major norvégien, qui a plaidé pour un effort significatif en faveur des forces armées à l’occasion de la remise de la dernière Revue stratégique de défense, le 1er octobre.

Cela étant, l’essentiel des crédits d’équipements seront affectés à l’acquisition d’avions F-35A. Afin de remplacer les F-16 de ses forces aériennes, la Norvège a commandé 52 unités (22 confirmés) de cet appareil développé par Lockheed-Martin pour un montant estimé à 8,2 milliards de dollars… Ce qui en fait le projet d’acquisition le plus important de l’histoire du pays, d’autant plus si on y ajoute le développement Joint Strike Missile (JSM) par Kongsberg.

Le premier F-35 destiné à la Norvège est sorti d’usine en septembre. Il restera, comme les 3 suivants, aux États-Unis pour y former les pilotes norvégiens.

Les capacités en matière de renseignement, les patrouilles dans le Grand Nord ainsi que l’entretien des navires afin d’augmenter la préparation et la disponibilité de ces derniers sont les autres priorités de ce budget 2016.

Cette hausse importante des dépenses militaires norvégiennes a été décidée alors que le contexte sécuritaire régional s’est dégradé au cours de ces derniers mois, en raison notamment de la crise ukrainienne et des tensions entre la Russie et les pays scandinaves, qu’ils appartiennent ou non à l’Otan.

Dans son rapport d’activité pour l’année 2014, l’armée norvégienne a ainsi relevé un regain significatif de l’activité militaire russe dans le Grand Nord.

« La Russie a démontré sa capacité et sa volonté d’employer sa puissance militaire pour atteindre ses objectifs politiques », avait alors commenté l’amiral Bruun-Hanssen, en faisant allusion à la Crimée. Et d’ajouter : »Il est important de préciser que l’on ne considère pas aujourd’hui que la Russie représente une menace militaire pour la Norvège, mais nous devons continuer de suivre ce qui se passe dans notre voisinage ».

« Le gouvernement norvégien prend la nouvelle situation sécuritaire très au sérieux et, en 2016, nous avons l’intention de donner suite à notre intention affichée de renforcer nos forces armées (…) à la fois sur le court et le long terme », a plaidé Ine Eriksen Søreide, Mme le ministre norvégien de la Défense.

« Un renforcement considérable des forces armées norvégiennes est nécessaire pour développer les capacités à la fois pertinentes et modernes afin de dissuader l’utilisation de la force contre la Norvège et ses alliés de l’Otan », a-t-elle encore estimé dans un communiqué.


http://www.opex360.com/2015/10/14/la-norvege-va-augmenter-ses-depenses-militaires-de-98/

Citation :

Norwegian F-35s At Luke AFB  


Ajoutée le 11 nov. 2015

Video by Senior Airman Jenna Bigham and Tech. Sgt. Michael Jackson 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

The first two Norwegian F-35 aircraft arriving at Luke AFB, AZ and the first Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35 student pilot’s initial flight. Norway is one of the F-35 partner nations currently training pilots at Luke AFB. The two Norwegian F-35 jets arrived from the Lockheed Martin plant at Ft. Worth, TX and will join the 62nd Fighter Squadron which is training both Norwegian and Italian pilots in addition to US pilots. Maj. Morten Hanche of the Royal Norwegian Air Force also did his initial F-35 flight and is the first Norwegian student to complete F-35 training at Luke AFB. Both events took place on Nov. 10th, which is the birthday of the Royal Norwegian Air Force.  

Citation :

La Norvège va très certainement réduire sa commande de F-35


Dans Actualité Défense, Actualité Avions de combat
Publié le 20/01/2016 à 15h36, par Antony Angrand


La Norvège pourrait être amenée à commander dix F-35 de moins que prévu. © Lockheed Martin


La Norvège va devoir très certainement revoir le nombre de F-35 commandés. Avec un prix du baril de pétrole toujours au plus bas et une monnaie nationale qui rend les JSF encore plus coûteux une fois leur prix converti en dollars américains, la ministre de la défense Ine Eriksen Søreide travaille actuellement sur un plan à long terme afin d'enrayer le sous-financement chronique des forces armées norvégiennes. Ce plan pourrait être révélé ce printemps.

Si le nombre de F-35 commandés n'est pas revu à la baisse, la Norvège se verra très certainement obligée de procéder à des coupes claires dans le budget de la défense ou de faire appel de manière beaucoup plus importante à l'Otan.

"La dernière chose que je souhaite est une réduction du nombre de F-35 commandés", a déclaré de son côté l'amiral Haakon Bruun-Hansen, à la tête de l'état-major des forces armées norvégiennes. Ce dernier a toutefois déclaré que le financement des forces armées norvégiennes est plus complexe qu'il y a six mois de cela en raison de la situation économique du pays et des prévisions dans ce domaine. La réduction du nombre de F-35 pourrait être de l'ordre de dix appareils.

Les Etats-unis ont également sollicité plusieurs fois de suite la ministre de la défense, afin que la Norvège contribue de manière plus importante à la lutte contre Daesh. Mais le gouvernement norvégien a choisi de n'envoyer aucun F-16.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/la-norvege-va-tres-certainement-reduire-sa-commande-de-f-35-60989

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