A clear investment in defence

The Government today presented the new long-term plan for the Armed Forces: A Defence for the protection of Norway’s security, interests and values. The Government wishes to give the Armed Forces a substantial financial boost. The Government also maintains its strategic focus on the northern regions and carries forward its policy for a Defence which has the deep-rooted and broadly based support of the Norwegian people. 

“It is the Government’s recommendation that the Armed Forces should be strengthened, both over the forthcoming four-year period and thereafter,” says the Defence Minister, Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen. “This is a plan for building up the Armed Forces, not cutting them back.”

The Government is preparing to give the Armed Forces a financial boost with an increase of NOK 800 million in the overall budgetary framework. This corresponds to an increase in the defence budget of 2.5 percent in real terms compared with the current year.

The northern regions are to be strengthened
The Government continues to give clear priority to the northern regions. The northern regions are the Government’s prime area for strategic investment. The Armed Forces’ presence in North Norway is to be strengthened. In the further development of our Armed Forces over the forthcoming long-term planning period, particular emphasis will be placed first and foremost on addressing the tasks and challenges that we face in our adjacent sea areas, just as it has been since this government took over in 2005, says the Defence Minister.

At the same time the Government will be taking Norway’s international responsibilities very seriously.
“The UN and NATO are the bedrock on which Norway’s security policy is based. We will continue to make substantial contributions to international operations,” says Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen in conclusion.

The system of compulsory military service will be carried forward and strengthened: The system of universal military service is itself a key factor in maintaining the Norwegian people’s deep-rooted support for the Armed Forces. The number of conscripts undergoing a period of initial military service will remain stable at the current level. The content will be strengthened and the period of initial service will be extended to 12 months for all.

The Government is bringing in mandatory screening sessions for women, based on the positive results experienced with the scheme for voluntary sessions. This will ensure that all young women in a particular age group will have access to information about the life offered by the armed services. This in turn will help to strengthen the recruiting of women to the services. At the same time the sessions themselves will be improved by dividing them into two parts with the first part devoted to exploring the individual’s own interests and aspirations. This will enhance the quality of the sessions while at the same time making it easier for contact to be made with those who are the most motivated and best suited to service in the Armed Forces.

The Army and the Home Guard will be strengthened: The Army will be strengthened through increased funding allocations and reinforcement of the brigade structure. Manpower numbers will increase and more thorough preparation and training for operations abroad will be introduced. The Home Guard will continue to develop its operational capability and will extend its presence with 45,000 soldiers countrywide.

An ultra-modern Navy: The Navy’s operational capability will be significantly enhanced with the commissioning of new helicopter-equipped frigates and MTBs, with a new logistics ship following later. This will give us one of the world’s most modern navies. The Coast Guard will continue to be given high priority. In total, this represents an increased naval presence which will be valuable not least in our adjacent sea areas.

A stronger Air Force: New transport aircraft will be phased in over this period. The Air Force’s main helicopter facilities will be brought together at Bardufoss. The decision regarding the choice of the future main base for combat aircraft is still awaited and should be seen in the context of the procurement process for new combat aircraft. The Government will return to this question towards the end of 2008.

Manpower: The Armed Forces’ most valuable resource is its men and women. The Government will focus on service manpower, intensifying its efforts to recruit and retain the best qualified men and women. Skill levels will be strengthened substantially and the way is being prepared for an increase in manpower numbers of around 1,000 (from about 16,000 to about 17,000). Current work on improving follow-up arrangements for personnel leaving the services will be continued, as will the strengthening of the rights of retired personnel. When Norwegian men and women are sent out to serve the cause of international peace and security, they must be able to feel sure that they will receive whatever follow-up support that they may need.

Stronger top-level leadership: The Government will strengthen the top-level strategic and operational leadership of the Armed Forces. Operational command will be brought together at one headquarters in the north, at Reitan. This move is in line with the Government’s increased focus on the northern regions. A single headquarters will serve to strengthen operational command and is more in tune with the defence structure that we now have. The Government proposes that the single-service Chiefs of Staff should be located close to their respective main areas of activity.

The Armed Forces in balance: The measures contained in the long-term plan are fully financed through a substantial increase in defence funding combined with internal measures to improve cost-effectiveness. The financing of the Armed Forces will be brought into balance and this in turn will give the necessary predictability and stability for the future. With this plan, therefore, the restructuring of Norway’s defence is moved forward into a new phase in which a good balance can be maintained between the tasks that the Armed Forces are required to carry out, the organisational structure and the resources provided.