Norway launches the modernization of its armed forces and plans to create modern air defense

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Defence & Security News - Norway
 
Norway launches the modernization of its armed forces and plans to create modern air defense.
The Norwegian Army announced on Friday, April 24, 2015, its largest modernization since the 1940s, as well as the establishment of a new and modern air defense system. Norway needs to boost manpower and increase funding for advanced defense systems and equipment to pose a credible deterrent to Russia's growing military presence in the High North, according to the Norwegian Armed Forces' (NAF) 2014 Annual Report.
     
The Norwegian Army announced on Friday, April 24, 2015, its largest modernization since the 1940s, as well as the establishment of a new and modern air defense system. Norway needs to boost manpower and increase funding for advanced defense systems and equipment to pose a credible deterrent to Russia's growing military presence in the High North, according to the Norwegian Armed Forces' (NAF) 2014 Annual Report. Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion of Norwegian army during their instrumented exercise in Rena
     
At the Nordic Defence Ministerial meeting in Arvidsjaur on March 10th, Ministers of Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Iceland. decided to enhance the possibilities to monitor the development in our region. This includes both air- and sea- surveillance. The aim is to share information on activities in our air space, improve pre-warning communication and reduce the risk of unexpected events and possible misunderstandings.

“When completed, the Norwegian Army will have a fleet of modern tanks and fighting vehicles that are fully network enabled, with increased firepower, mobility and protection. Together with a new mobile air-defense system, the war fighting capabilities of the Norwegian Army will be significantly improved,” the army said in a statement.

The air defense system will be a part of Norway's Artillery Battalion, based in the northern county of Troms. The battalion also participates in NATO’s Response Force.

The modernized version of the army is set to be operational by 2020, with total investment estimated at approximately $1.7 billion.
     
The Norwegian Army announced on Friday, April 24, 2015, its largest modernization since the 1940s, as well as the establishment of a new and modern air defense system. Norway needs to boost manpower and increase funding for advanced defense systems and equipment to pose a credible deterrent to Russia's growing military presence in the High North, according to the Norwegian Armed Forces' (NAF) 2014 Annual Report. NASAM (Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System) launch unit.
     
Curently, Norwegian army is equipped with the surface-to-air defense missile system NASAM. A typical task for the system is to protect military and civil installations, departments, population centres and other types of infrastructure against air-to-surface attacks.

The syem was developed by the Defence Company Kongsberg Gruppen ASA. A standard NASAMS unit has a modular design comprising a command post FDC, an active 3D radar AN/MPQ64F1 Sentinel, a passive electro-optic and infra-red sensor and a number of missile canister launchers with AMRAAM missiles. Normally, four NASAMS units are netted in a battalion network.

NASAMS is in operational use in Norway, Spain the US and the Netherlands, and in production for Finland and one undisclosed customer.