Norwegian Defence Force
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Navy Marinen (Coast Guard Kystvakten) Air Force Luftforsvaret Home Guard Heimevernet |
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| Norwegian military ranks |
The Norwegian Defence Forces (Norwegian: Forsvaret) numbers about 30,000 personnel, including civilian employees.[1] According to current (as of 2006) mobilisation plans, the strength during full mobilisation is approximately 130,000 combatant personnel.[1] Norway has mandatory military service for males (6-12 months of training) and voluntary service for females.
Norwegian Defence Forces are subordinate to the Norwegian Ministry of Defence (headed by the Minister of Defence). The Commander-in-Chief is H.M. King Harald V.
Under the Constitution, the Minister of Defence is accountable to Parliament for all activities carried out by the agencies under his/her responsibility. This means that the Ministry, as part of the executive branch of government, is responsible for supervising the activity of its subordinate agencies, among other things by carrying out overall supervisory functions.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is from 2003 an integrated structure with civilian and military personnel. Subordinate to the MoD are the "Armed Forces' Military Organisation" as well as the three civilian agencies: the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), the National Security Agency and the Defence Estate Agency.
The main annual national exercise is Cold Response, held yearly, with all NATO member states invited.
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[edit] Armed Forces' Military Organisation
Military branches (in order of seniority):
The Armed Forces Military Organisation is headed by the "Chief of Defence" (a four star general or admiral). The Chief of Defence is both head of the military organisation and principal military adviser to the Minister of Defence. The Armed Forces Military Organisation consists of the following main structures:
- 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. The each of the four branches of defence is headed by a two star general/admiral who are subordinate to DEFSTNOR.
- National Joint Headquarters (NJHQ) in Mount Jåttå close to Stavanger has operational control of Norwegian defence forces worldwide 24/7. It is headed by the Supreme Commander Norwegian Forces - a three star general or admiral. Subordinate to NJHQ is the Regional Headquarters North in Bodø. Located the same place as NJHQ is NATO's Joint Warfare Center (JWC).
- Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation (NDLO) at Kolsås outside Oslo is responsible for engineering, procurement, investment, supply, information and communications technology. It also has responsibility for maintenance, repair and storage of materiel.
[edit] Structure 2008
The Norwegian armed forces will be reorganised during the period 2005 to 2008. The structure after 2008 is planned to be as follows.
Joint:
- 1 National Joint Headquarters in Stavanger
- 2 Regional Command in Bodø and Stavanger
- 12 Home Guard districts
- Tactical Mobile Land/Maritime Command
- Norwegian Defence Special Forces
- Norwegian Army Special Operations Command Hærens Jegerkommando in Norwegian. (Roughly the equivalent to the UK Special Air Service).
- Norwegian Naval Special Operations Command Marinejegerkommandoen in Norwegian. (Roughly the equivalent to the US Navy Seals or UK Special Boat Service).
- 1 Air Wing, 720Sqn.
- Joint ISTAR Unit (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance)
- Module based ISTAR Unit
- Norwegian Coastal Ranger Command (Kystjegerkommandoen in Norwegian)
- Unmanned aerial vehicle capability
- Airborne Ground Surveillance (joint NATO project)
- Norwegian Home Guard - 50 000 personnel + 33 000 (reserve), rapid reaction forces, follow-on-forces, reinforcement forces and reserves.
- Capacity for information operations
- Flexible medical units
- NRBC protection (Nuclear, radiological, biological, chemical weapons )
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal
- Joint C2I Unit (command, control and information)
- Civil Military Coordination Unit (CIMIC)
- Deployable logistical support
- 2 mobilisation host country battalions (logistics for allied reinforcements)
- 1 mechanised infantry brigade (Brigade Nord)
- 1 mobilisation mechanised infantry brigade (Brigade 6)
- 1 mobile tactical land command (6th Division)
- Division/Corps units; ISTAR Unit, transport unit, fuel unit, NRBC search and cleaning unit, engineering unit, bridge unit
- Norwegian Army Special Operations Command
- Home Guard (Land)
- Border Guards
- HM the King's Guard
- 5 Fridtjof Nansen class Aegis frigates
- 2 Oslo class frigates
- 6 Skjold class fast patrol boats
- 14 Hauk class fast patrol boats
- 6 Ula class submarines
- Mine Warfare Capability
- 6 (8) Oksøy class mine hunter and Alta class mine sweeper
- Mine Clearance Command (divers); HNoMS Tyr support vessel
- Norwegian Coastal Ranger Command
- Naval Ranger Command
- Tactical Naval Command
- Logistics/Support Capacity
- Home Guard (Sea)
- Coast Guard
- 1 Svalbard class vessel
- 3 Barentshav class vessels
- 3 Nordkapp class OPV
- Leased vessels (KV Tromsø and KV Ålesund, KV Harstad, 6 ocean patrol vessels)
- Inner coast guard (25 leased vessels)
- Tug capacity
- Strategic Sealift
- Home Guard (Sea) (235 patrol and Tug vessels)
- 57 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters
- 2 Air Control Centre/Recognized Air picture Production Centre/Sensor Fusion post (ARS Sørreisa and ARS Mågerø)
- Strategic Airlift / Aerial refuelling (common NATO projects)
- Maritime surveillance (4 x P-3C Orion and 2 x P-3N Orion
- Electronic Warfare (2 + 1 DA-20 Jet Falcon)
- Transport C-130 Hercules
- Air Defence Artillery (NASAMS)
- Air Wing for Special Forces (6 x Bell 412SP)
- Home Guard (Air)
- 18 Bell 412SP transport and light attack helicopters
- 6 NH-90 maritime helicopters (frigates)
- Deployable base support
- 12 Sea King search and rescue helicopters
[edit] References and notes
- ^ a b NDF official numbers. NDF. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
[edit] See also
- Norway
- NATO
- Scandinavian defence union
- Norwegian Defence Research Establishment
- Norwegian military ranks
- National Security Authority
- Norwegian Intelligence Service
- Norwegian Ministry of Defence
- Nordic Battle Group
[edit] External links
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