Norway does not have good enough air defences, which are supposed to defend us from threats in airspace. This is the opinion of several top defense officials news has spoken to. On Friday, it became known that Norway is providing two complete air defense systems to Ukraine, in addition to those already delivered. The defense system will combat Russian cruise missiles and other air targets in Ukraine. But the Air Force in Norway itself only has the ability to protect the largest airports in Norway, according to the Air Force itself. – As of today, Norway has sufficient air defense to only protect the airports. Everything outside of that will be a secondary mission, says Trond Strand, who is head of the National Air Operations Centre. That doesn’t work, says the commander of the Air Defense Battalion Evenes, Stian Negaard Nilsen. – Air defense in Norway and air defense in general work according to some principles; quantity, mix, mobility and integration. We need more and we need a better mix of systems. The statements come during a press briefing in connection with the exercise Joint Viking, which ended this week. An F-35 fighter jet over Evenes air station this week. Norway has purchased 52 F-35 aircraft at a price of NOK 90 billion. So far, Norway has received 37. The rest will be delivered by 2024. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB Several Russian aircraft during military exercises 20,000 Norwegian and allied soldiers have practiced for ten days off the Norwegian coast. During the exercise, four Russian aircraft were observed in international airspace near the Norwegian border. This led to sharp missions for the F-35 aircraft at Evenes, so-called interceptions. Facts about interceptions of Russian aircraft * Norway routinely intercepts Russian aircraft in international airspace. It is to keep control of who flies along the Norwegian coast. * The emergency response mission is called QRA – Quick Reaction Alert. The mission is carried out on behalf of NATO and means that Norway has two combat aircraft ready to move out, or scramble, at any time. When the alarm goes off, the planes are in the air within 15 minutes. * During the Cold War this happened often. In 1984 it happened 544 times. In the last ten years, it has happened on average 50–100 times a year. * In 2022, it happened 43 times. * It is the F-35 fighter jets that now carry out the interceptions. They took over for the F-16 last year. * Norway has ordered 52 F-35 aircraft. The price tag is over NOK 90 billion. (NTB) And it is not unusual: in the last ten years, there have been on average between 50 and 100 such missions. After the war in Ukraine broke out, activity has decreased. Nevertheless, it is clear that Russian activity is increasing during the exercise, says Colonel and Air Wing Commander Eirik Guldvog to news. Colonel Eirik Guldvog says that the number of Russian aircraft in Norwegian airspace often increases during military exercises. Photo: Frida Brembo The Russian planes do not violate Norway’s border and the missions are routine. nevertheless, they highlight the Russians’ interest. – During the exercise we see that there is increased activity and that is quite natural, he says and adds: – We are interested in what is happening in the Barents Sea and they are interested in what is going on in connection with the exercise. The F35 aircraft have control over the airspace where NATO meets Russia. In addition, the Norwegian-made air defense is used at Norway’s military air stations on Ørland and Evenes. It is also used as part of the combat air defense in the army – The challenge in Norway today is the amount of material we have available, says the commander at Air Defense Battalion Evenes, Stian Negaard Nilsen. – We need more of the air defense we have and we need other systems that can cover the gaps NASAMS is not intended to cover. Stian Negaard Nilsen believes we have too little air defense in Norway today. Photo: news – Is it a paradox that we are now sending air defense to, among other things, Ukraine, even though we ourselves lack such air defense? – I don’t want to say that. It is important that the war is fought where it is. I fully support the contributions we make, says Nilsen. At the same time, he believes that we must also take advice on building up air defense in Norway. – After the war in Ukraine broke out, the importance of air defense has not changed, but it has become more obvious, says Nilsen. The chief of defense’s task to prioritize – Norway maintains the air defense preparedness that we are required to do. That’s what the head of the National Air Operations Centre, Trond Strand, says. He also believes that air defense should be a higher priority: – Air defense is a capacity that has been recorded in the past. There is a desire to acquire more and more types of air defense. It is also something that the Air Force has included in military studies, he says. However, it is the chief of defense’s task to decide how high a priority air defense should be. – Is it a paradox that we are now sending anti-aircraft defense to Ukraine, for example, even though we ourselves lack such equipment? – Norway supports the fight that is going on there. Both with air defense and other types of capacities such as ammunition, tanks and we contribute to training Ukrainian forces, says Strand.
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Believes Norway has too little air defense – donates weapons system to Ukraine – news Nordland
