– We have a modern and ready -to -move mountain facility. It is madness not to use existing infrastructure, says Bodø Mayor Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen (H). Today, NATO has two regional air capital quarters in Europe. These are located in Germany and Spain. Now NATO will establish a third center for air operations in the northern areas, and what Norway has been given. The facility will house hundreds of people and will be in full operation in 2027. Over the next few weeks, the government will decide where in Norway the new command center will be established. Is it from Bodø, Rygge or perhaps Ørlandet All air operations in the Nordic countries should be managed? Secret mountain facilities news has gained access to pictures from a hitherto secret mountain facility in Bodø, which has been unused for many years. The mountain facility is located on the Bodø Peninsula and is called “1210”. But do not appear on any maps and have not been known to the public. The premises will be well maintained and together with the Armed Forces’ operational headquarters outside Bodø, and a similar mountain facility at Rygge in Østfold, will be possible locations for a new NATO command in Norway. Recently, Jåtta in Rogaland is also mentioned as a possible candidate. This is the first time the Armed Forces have released pictures of the secret bomb -proof mountain facility in Bodø. Photo: Defense / news The hottest candidates, however, are Bodø and Rygge. Recently, it has been “lobbying” for both options. On Wednesday, Aftenposten wrote that the Air Force concludes that the latter is the best option. It shows a letter that the newspaper has gained access to. “Rygge is the best option to ensure long -term sustainability within the personnel dimension, both in a national and allied perspective,” the letter from the Air Defense said. -On the other hand, a war facility in Fjell Bodø mayor believes that everything is ready for Bodø to house a NATO command. – There is a little hefty discussion right now, but that’s how it should be. I think Bodø lies well, says Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen. It has been emphasized that there is no room for such a command in Bodø. This is not right, according to Ingebrigtsen, who refers to several Aftenposten articles that mentions the Air Force’s “space concerns” in Bodø. He is pleased that the Armed Forces have released pictures of the secret mountain facility so far. -Bodø has never had trouble recruiting people for NATO missions in Bodø, says Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news – It highlights some of what we have emphasized all the time that there are large amounts of military infrastructure here. This is a war facility in the mountains, which can also be used for a possible natocommand. The last time the mountain facility in Bodø was in use must have been in 2022, according to Ingebrigtsen. -Then hundreds of Americans sat in the facility and coordinated the big NATO exercise. It is a modern and ready -to -move facility. Ingebrigtsen says it is also important that a NATO command is placed in the northern areas. Rygge believes is best suited in Moss, party mate and mayor Simen Nord (H) believe that recruitment is more important. He also believes that the mountain facility at Rygge air station is better suited than similar in Bodø. -Parts of what we have here are a little 80s standard, but something is also very new and nice. So that plant can be used in a very short time. It is an advantage for Rygge. The mountain facility at Rygge believes the air defense, according to Aftenposten, is best suited. Photo: Defense / Defense Nord says it will be easier to recruit personnel to NATO jobs in the Eastern Norway area than to Bodø. – Our location makes it easier for those who will be weekly commuters between Norway and Sweden or Norway and Germany. The North believes the Armed Forces will, however, build up sharply in Northern Norway over the next few years. – I totally agree with Ingebrigtsen that it is important that the Armed Forces have a solid footprint in the north. From the mountain hall at Rygge flight station in Østfold. Photo: Defense Word button Minister Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap) was a word button when he was asked about the establishment during a recent visit to Bodø. – Is it time to brush dust off old military installations in the north and re -draw the map, given the world situation now? -While we previously thought of north-south axes through Norway, we are now talking east-west axes. So before we decide what we use again or build new, we have to look at what the whole of this looks like. The fact that we had something before is no evidence that we need it today. What we can say is that we need a solid military footprint in the northern Nordic, says Barth Eide. Espen Barth Eide and the Estonian Foreign Minister visit the Defense Operational Headquarters (FOH) in the mountain facility at Reitan outside Bodø. Photo: Marius Eriksen Guttormsen / news – NATO’s new Air Command – What speaks for and against the relevant candidates? – I know the case well, but I don’t intend to say anything about it now. It is a decision to be made by the government and for which the Minister of Defense has the main responsibility. – When will the decision come? – It’s not very long. FOH is responsible for leading and coordinating all national and international military operations. Now NATO can also establish its own command here. Photo: Lars-Bjørn Martinsen / news-Lighter from Rygge In the past, it has been suggested that a new NATO center could mean between 200-500 jobs. But it is not realistic, according to Ole Jørgen Maaø, who is associate professor at the Air War School-if we are to look at the centers that already exist, they have between 100 and 200 NATO positions. But it is not unlikely that there may be some Norwegian positions as well. He has noticed the discussion that is ongoing about the travel route of NATO employees in Brussels, as well as the back of the back to the capital. – I think the journey is a significant factor, but Bodø is not as small as people in Østfold may think. But there is no doubt that the labor market and the opportunities to commute from Denmark and Sweden are much easier from Rygge. CAOC – COMBINED AIR OPERATIONS CENTER There are currently two common air operation centers in NATO – one in Uedem, Germany and one in Torrejón, Spain A third CAOC Center was decided in February 2025. The CAOC centers are responsible for planning, leading, performing tasks, coordinating, monitoring and supporting air operations in peace, crisis and conflict. The new CAOC in Norway gets control of the Nordic countries, the Baltic Sea, the North Atlantic and the Barents Sea. The Nordic countries have a total of 250 modern fighter aircraft. In terms of routine, they are tasked with performing NATO’s air -polica assignments published 12.03.2025, at. 16.28
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