Norway spends about 1.8% GDP on defence, about the same level of expenditure as other member countries of NATO. Military spending has gone down in recent years, from 7.4% of the corrected national budget in 1990 to 4.8% in 2004. And it may decline further, in step with ongoing modernisation.

The resources of the armed forces – the army, navy and air force, augmented by the home guard and the coast guard – and civilian preparedness organisations are combined in what’s known as total defence, which gives rise to the ability to mobilise the entire resources of the country if need be. The distinction between the military and civilian sectors now is less distinct as the two interwork. In turn, this has led to the civilian sector fulfilling many tasks that in other countries are dealt with by the military, particularly in transport and supply. In event of war, the armed forces may requisition civil aircraft, ships, vehicles and other resources.

There are three intelligence agencies. The National Security Authority is responsible for proactive national security, identifying national objects of interest and reducing their vulnerability to internal and external threats. The Norwegian Intelligence Service is the country’s only external security agency. The Police Security Agency may be likened to the British MI5 and is responsible for internal security.

In step with the high level of computerisation of the country, there is a single portal with extensive information on, publications by and links to all defence and security organisations, the Norwegian Defence Media Centre (NDMC), Oslo mil/Akershus, 0015 Oslo, www.mil.no, fms@frm.mil.no.

As the country is small, its defence budget palls in comparison with those of most other, larger countries. But in one respect, Norway is a heavyweight: its defence industry is the world’s sixth largest exporter of arms.

The Air Force (Luftforsvaret)

The Royal Norwegian Air Force became an independent service in 1944. In peacetime, it has about 3,000 personnel, and in time of war, some 17,500. It has 10 squadrons that operate from seven air stations and fly a variety of aircraft and helicopters, including F-16 fighters. It also operates six missile batteries and 10 short-range point defence missile systems.

Air-raid shelters (Tilfluktsrom)

There are some 25,000 air-raid shelters across the country which can accommodate a total of some 2.6 million people. Public air-raid shelters, mostly in larger cities, have a total capacity of about 300,000 people. Since the Second World War, building regulations have required that air-raid shelters be built in all buildings open to the public, as well as in larger private buildings, such as office complexes and blocks of flats. In peacetime, these air-raid shelters may be fitted with temporary interiors and thereby be used for other purposes, such as for storage lockers for blocks of flats or clubs in university and college buildings. However, the temporary interiors are designed so they may be removed in 72 hours, should international tension increase and war threaten. The usefulness of the shelters in a modern, high-tech war has been questioned. But the country’s long coastline and many harbours make it vulnerable to attack, not least by terrorists. So the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning has opted for a strategy of maintaining the country’s air-raid shelters.

Alarms (Varsling)

Across the country, there are some 1,200 warning facilities (varslingsanlegg), mostly in cities and larger towns. Each facility has sirens (sirener) or hooters (tyfoner) that can be heard throughout its coverage area. There are three warnings:

• Urgent warning, listen to your radio (viktig melding – lytt på radioen): A five-minute sequence of three sets of three tone blasts each; about one minute between successive sets. Church bells give warning to areas lacking warning facilities.
• Air raid, seek cover! (flyalarm, søk dekning!): A one-minute sequence of short-tone blasts.
• All clear (faren over): A continuous tone for about half a minute.

In peacetime, the alarms are used to warn of disasters, such as gas leakage, dam rupture or catastrophic fire. All alarm facilities are periodically tested, usually at midday, on dates and at times announced in advance in the Kunngjøringer (“Announcements”) section of the classified advertisements in newspapers.

The Army (Hæren)

The Army is the largest of the Armed Services, with a peacetime strength of about 9,000 and a mobilised strength of about 20,000. Its mobile war organisation comprises two mobile brigades, an independent mechanised brigade, the King’s Guard, a Ranger Detachment at battalion strength, the Border Guard that also operates in peacetime, the Ranger Command and support units.

Cadre training schools (Befalsskoler)

The Armed Services have altogether some 20 training and competence centres (Skoler og kompetansesenter) for training non-commissioned and commissioned officers. Men or women applicants must be Norwegian citizens, at least 18 years old, have no criminal record, and pass a physical examination and an acceptance test.

CIVPOL

CIVPOL is the abbreviation for the United Nations Civilian Police that are deployed round the globe to support UN peacekeeping operations and other UN field missions. In a typical year, more than 4,000 police officers from 80 countries provide CIVPOL services, including patrol, training, advising local police, and promoting conformance to human rights agreements. Since 1989, the Norwegian police (Chapter 10) have provided staff for CIVPOL missions. For further details, contact Politidirektoratet, Henrik Ibsens gt 10, PO Box 8051 Dep, 0031 Oslo, Tel: 23364100, Fax: 23364296, www.politi.no/tema/civpol.shtml.

Defence Deployment Forces (Forsvarets innsatsstyrker)

The Defence Deployment Forces, or High-Readiness Forces (HRF), are drawn from all three Armed Services and form the basis of the country’s contribution to international operations. Each of the three HRFs consists of trained, quality units capable of rapid deployment to conflicts abroad.

Defence industry (Forsvarsindustri)

Though it’s 21st in the world in industrial output, according to UN trade statistics, Norway ranks sixth in the world in export of arms. Two defence manufacturers, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Nammo, both about half owned by the State, account for the lion’s share of that output.

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace makes a range of military hardware and software for land, sea and air applications, from basic materials to guided missiles and complete systems, Kirkegaardsveien 45, PO Box 1003, 3601 Kongsberg, Tel: 32288200, Fax: 32288586, www.kongsberg.com.

Nammo makes small- and medium-calibre ammunition for civilian and military use, as well as components for artillery ammunition and anti-tank systems, rocket motors/warheads and revision, demilitarisation and pyrotechnics, PO Box 142, 2831 Raufoss, Tel: 61153600, Fax: 61153620, www.nammo.com.

For an overview of the defence industry, contact the Norwegian Defence Industry Group (Norske forsvarsleveranser, NFL) at the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry, Middelthunsgt 27, PO Box 5250 Majorstua, Tel: 23088000, www.nfl-norskeforsvarslev.org.

Defence Staff (Forsvarsstaben)

The ministerial government is the highest executive authority responsible for military and civilian preparedness in peacetime and for the command of the total defence in time of war. The military command authority is delegated to the Chief of Defence. The relevant administration is performed by the Defence Staff.

Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning (Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap)

In 2003, the former Directorate for Civil Defence and Emergency Planning and the Directorate for Fire and Electrical Safety merged into the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning (DSB).

DSB’s remit is to keep abreast of evolving vulnerable situations or threats, take preventive action, and respond to emergencies. DSB is the national authority for municipal and inter-municipal fire services, the local electrical and safety inspection authorities, and the county emergency preparedness activities. It also oversees the Civil Defence organisation, the Emergency Planning College, the Fire Academy and three regional Civil Defence schools. For further information, contact the head office, PO Box 2014, 3103 Tønsberg, Tel: 33412500, Fax: 33310660, www.dsb.no, postmottak@dsb.no.

Home Guard (Heimevernet)

The Home Guard, or Territorial Army, was established in 1946. It is decentralised, with units in all municipalities, divided into 18 districts throughout the country. Though principally a military auxiliary, it also acts as an emergency service in times of natural or other non-military disasters. Home Guard officers, non-commissioned officers and servicemen are recruited from the local community, so as to be familiar with local conditions. For best operational efficiency, each Home Guard unit has contacts with the civilian sector and makes use of the civilian expertise of its members. Overall, the Home Guard is divided into three branches that correspond to the three military services: Land corresponding to Army, Naval corresponding to the Navy, and Air Defence Artillery corresponding to the Air Force. Together, Home Guard units can mobilise a strength of up to 83,000 and have more than 1,000 permanent facilities throughout the country. Accordingly, the Home Guard is well financed, by about 2.2% of the national defence budget.

Industrial Security Council (Næringslivets sikkerhetsråd)

The Norwegian Industrial Security Council (NSR) monitors trends in threats to business and industry, including espionage, sabotage, fraud, organised crime and computer crime. It works with management, labour and safety experts to identify threats and implement countermeasures. It is active in six regions across the country and has a secretariat at the Norwegian Industrial Safety and Security Organisation (Nœringslivets sikkerhetsorganisasjon, NSO) in Oslo. Through NSO, NSR advises companies, prepares guidelines and publications and organises courses and conferences. For further details, contact the NSR head office, PO Box 5493 Majorstua, 0305 Oslo, Tel: 23088460, Fax: 23088550, www.nsr-org.no, nsr@nso.no.

Intelligence Service (Etterretningstjenesten)

The Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS) reports to the Chief of Defence and is the country’s only external security agency. For further information, contact the head office, Alnabru Bedriftssenter, 0614 Oslo, Tel: 23094000, Fax: 23094400, www.mil.no/etjenesten, post®foe.mil.no.

Military ranks (Militære grader)

The Norwegian military ranks and their equivalents in British English and American English are listed in Table 9.

Modernisation (Modernisering)

In response to the ever-changing strategic setting, the Armed Forces are undergoing modernisation. The principal aim is to build an adaptive defence structure through transformation, which entails changing from heavier, slower-moving forces to lighter, more agile entities using high-technology in computerised operations. In military circles, it’s called a Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA). The RMA steps being taken include improving personnel administration throughout the Armed Forces, continuing but adapting conscription, creating more efficient support and logistics, and reallocating NOK 2 billion from logistics and support to material investments and operational activities.

National Joint Headquarters (Fellesoperativ hovedkvarter)

The Joint Operational Headquarters is the principal staff element responsible for the operational activities of the Armed Forces, at home and abroad. It is located at Jåttå, outside Stavanger.

National Security Authority (Nasjonal sikkerhetsmyndighet)

The National Security Authority is a directorate that answers to the Minister of Defence. It is responsible for proactive national security, identifying national objects of interest and reducing their vulnerability to internal and external threats.

National Service (Verneplikt)

If you are a man and a Norwegian citizen, you are subject to compulsory military service. In most cases, you will receive notice (innkalling) to report for your first medical examination and classification (sesjon) in the first half of the year of your 18th birthday. Thereafter, usually in the autumn of that year, you will be called up to basic training (førstegangstjenesten), usually for about 12 months, in one of the three Defence Deployment Forces. After basic training, you may elect to continue in the military, in which case you may wish to apply to a Cadre training school. If you return to civilian life, you will either become part of the reserve forces and will be called up periodically for refresher training (repetisjonstjeneste) or be assigned to the Home guard. If you are a dual citizen, as of Norway and another European country or the USA, you normally are called up only in the country of your permanent residence upon your 18th birthday. If you are a conscientious objector, after finishing sesjon, you may apply for exemption from military service due to conflict with your convictions (søknad om fritak for militœrtjeneste av overbevisningsgrunner).

The Navy (Sjøforsvaret)

The Royal Norwegian Navy, as it is known in English, is responsible for monitoring and securing Norwegian interests in sea areas under Norwegian jurisdiction. These waters cover an area almost seven times that of the mainland. The ships of the regular Navy give the Coast Guard credibility in handling minor crises and they will support the Coast Guard if required. In peacetime, the Navy has some 5,000 personnel, and in time of war, some 6,000.

Ombudsman for the Armed Forces (Ombudsmannsnemda for Forsvaret)

The military forces consist of people, so the purpose of the Military Ombudsman Board is both to ensure general human rights in the armed forces and to contribute to efficient defence of the country. The Board acts both for military cadre and conscripts and for conscripts who elect civilian service (sivile tjenestepliktig).

Organisation Against Political Surveillance (Organisasjonen mot politisk overvåkning)

If you believe that you have been illegally subjected to political surveillance, you may seek support from the Organisation Against Political Surveillance (OPO) by contacting OPO, PO Box 628 Sentrum, 0106 Oslo, home.no.net/overvak, overvak@start.no.

Police Security Service (Politiets sikkerhetstjeneste)

The Police Security Service (PSS) is mainly concerned with internal security and may be likened to the British MI5. Its remit covers preventing and investigating terror activities, illegal intelligence work, spreading weapons of mass destruction or the materials and technologies for making them, and violent extremism. PSS also evaluates threats to national security and accordingly advises the Ministry of Justice and the Police and other relevant government agencies. For further information or for reporting matters relevant to national security, contact the head office, PO Box 2945 Tøyen, 0608 Oslo, Tel: 22668118, Fax: 22668149, www.pst.politiet.no, post@pst.politiet.no.

Research (Forskning)

Theoretical and applied research in fields related to defence is conducted by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (Forsvarets forskningsinstitutt), which was established in 1946. There now are five divisions, four at Kjeller near Oslo and one, for underwater defence, at Horten on the Oslo Fjord. FFI is an interdisciplinary institute covering most engineering fields as well as biology, medicine, political science and economics.