The background for this NATO request is that the three Baltic states lack their own military air control capability, and that the establishment of such a capability is essential in the context of confirming NATO’s acceptance of responsibility for collective defence in the Baltic area following the enlargement of the Alliance. NATO is working towards the establishment of a permanent solution for air command and control as part of NATO’s Air Policing for the Baltic countries. The Alliance has therefore requested Norway to support NATO by providing a temporary solution. NATO has a collective obligation to the new member countries and this deployment of a Norwegian Air Control Unit represents a contribution to the realisation of NATO’s responsibility, and is not a bilateral measure on the part of Norway. The unit will be part of NATO’s command structure for the duration of the deployment.

The Norwegian Air Control Unit has been developed by the Norwegian Air Force in collaboration with Norwegian industry. It is a mobile unit for surveillance and control of fighter aircraft, to be set up together with its own radio and line communications. The system is container-based and requires little space, and a smaller crew, compared with other solutions.

In recent years Norway has been widely involved in assisting the Baltic countries with their preparations for NATO membership. This involvement includes donation of two radar sets, the building of a training centre for radar personnel, together with training and competence transfer in connection with the work of the Baltic states in setting up BALTNET, the Baltic Air Surveillance Network.