You may have seen them yourself. A small black box with rotors in the air. They take amazing pictures. They are a good help in search and rescue operations. But, drones have become so much more than that. Technology is accelerating. Some would say frighteningly fast. RKG-3 grenades that were previously made to knock out tanks. They are now released from drones with 3D-printed tail fins that stabilize their fall through the air. Photo: Creative Commons – Norway needs weapon drones Today, drones are used both in the air and underwater – from the farming industry to the Armed Forces. An aerial drone is mainly used by the Norwegian Armed Forces for surveillance. These drones are controlled remotely by a drone pilot on the ground. But artificial intelligence can operate a drone without a pilot. They can be equipped with cameras, sensors and can even solve given tasks by themselves. They can also be equipped with weapons or be a weapon themselves. Like Russian attack drones in Ukraine. Norway must be able to defend itself against such drones, according to the defense chief. – We must have drones that can monitor and that in the future can transport things. But also drones that can deliver weapons. There, technology moves very quickly and there are drones that are today weapons, says Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen to news. The defense has tested this drone on Andøya. Photo: Andøya Space Defense / NTB Will develop at Andøya Today there are various drone projects in several parts of the Norwegian Armed Forces. Kristoffersen suggests bringing everyone together under one development environment on Andøya. There is a lack of drones that can withstand the arctic climate well enough, where testing and development on Andøya can help. The Chief of Defense’s professional military advice is handed over to Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB Kristoffersen points out a need to increase drone capacity. He suggests that both testing and trials of new drone systems be added there. – Andøya is a good starting point. We recommend that Andøya be continued as a contingency base. Then there must also be operation there. I think it is wise to put such a development environment there, says the chief of defence. For the Norwegian Armed Forces, it is important to maintain sovereignty in the north. The experience from Ukraine shows that drones have become an important part of modern warfare. In Ukraine, they are used, among other things, as weapons, to search for wounded soldiers and to spread propaganda. The last combat aircraft Gunnar Jan Olsen, general manager at Andøya Space Defence, is very positive about what the defense chief says. Olsen believes that the development we see with drones today is just the beginning. Perhaps there will be a drone that fights in the air without a pilot in the future. Photo: Andøya Space – Drone technology will only accelerate. I can say with certainty that Norway has bought its last combat aircraft operated by a pilot, he says. Olsen points out that it is not typical for Norway to think about offensive operations. Today, there is monitoring and control in areas that apply. Norway is far behind and it is therefore quite right to think that this is a technology we must acquire, he believes. The armed forces need more knowledge about drones. The Norwegian Defense Research Institute is researching various solutions. Photo: Espen Hofoss / FFI Can’t stand the climate – What is special about today’s drone technology is that no drones are designed for the Arctic climate. We must acquire more expertise, and more advanced testing, says Olsen. The Americans have had drones for many years and have already retired a few generations. But it’s not just buying systems out of the blue. With a cold, wet and windy climate, the technology must be developed and adapted. This is what a Black Hornet drone looks like. It is made in Asker and Hønefoss. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news – It means a lot for Norway overall if they decide to invest in that direction. Norway must gain more expertise, says Olsen. Colonel Kenneth Ørland, head of the air operational inspectorate, tells news that it is Colonel Ørland who believes that drones are a good resource, and he too can imagine that drones will be the fighter aircraft of the future. Photo: Philip Linder / The Norwegian Defense Forces geostrategically right to add testing and development of drones to Andøya. – On Andøya, we have infrastructure that will be relevant for testing and operating the larger drones. The systems are not yet good enough to fly them around densely built-up areas, Ørland points out. Great possibilities Today, the Norwegian Armed Forces operate drones as small as 10–15 grams, which can be flown into houses to clear or around a cliff to gain an overview of situations. The size of the drones ranges from the very small, to the tactical drones that can clear larger areas. – We see that in terms of defense, drones are a good resource. The armed forces will be able to use drones to transport material, supplies, for medical needs. – And in the future, drones will perhaps be used to a greater extent for surveillance or as weapon carriers. A drone can be in the air for 40 hours and it is cheaper to train a drone pilot than a fighter pilot, says Ørland. Depending on national control, Rødt believes it is urgent to strengthen Norway’s national defense capability. Leader Bjørnar Moxnes says that the party is in favor of testing, further development and procurement of military drones that can contribute to this, through, among other things, strengthening the ability to assert sovereignty, monitor and control our sea areas. Leader in Rødt, Bjørnar Moxnes. Photo: Tobias Prosch Simonsen – It is also necessary to contribute to activity on Andøya after the failed decision to close Andøya airport, Moxnes tells news. At the same time, Rødt believes it is crucial to have national control over such a project and that drones and drone technology are developed for the defense of Norway in line with international law. The Norwegian Defense Research Institute conducts research on drones, future drone warfare and tests. Photo: Espen Hofoss / FFI – Not to so-called killer robots with artificial intelligence, which can make decisions about killing people on their own. – In line with the demands of trade unions in the defense sector, Rødt says no to the involvement of civilian and private actors, which can come at the expense of security, preparedness, competence and consideration of the international law of war, points out Moxnes.
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Unmanned drones as the combat aircraft of the future – the chief of defense will move all projects to Andøya – news Nordland
