RUSI – Beyond the economic boost for the UK, the sale of Type 26 Frigates to Norway is a vote of confidence for the strategic partnership and NATO planning.

The Barents Observer – Russian fishing vessels are mapping critical infrastructure and conducting human intelligence gatherings in Norwegian waters. The government is well-informed about the spying, sources tell the Barents Observer. This is the main reason why Russian flagged ships last year got port stay limited to a maximum of five days. 

Navy News – The Russian government recently accused the Norwegian government of militarizing the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Region. According to Russian media, the Russians are concerned that the archipelago might be used in a potential conflict. They claim that that the territory of Svalbard is increasingly being drawn into Norway’s military and political planning together with NATO.

Defense News – A team of officers bearing the Norwegian flag on their uniform climb from one moving vessel onto another, a larger Norwegian Coast Guard offshore patrol ship, using a single pole with a hook and flimsy ladder to haul themselves up. They are part of the Norwegian Coastal Rangers, a marine commando unit trained to operate in littoral combat environments. In the context of the NATO exercise Joint Viking 2025, organized earlier this month, they trained for the task of boarding a suspicious vessel.

Breaking Defense – Norway has embarked on studies to examine how it would introduce a new, long-range, aerial maritime surveillance drone into its forces in the high north and has asked the US for information about suitable American options, the Ministry of Defence said in a new statement.

The Barents Observer – Several hundred million kroner will be spent on a major refurbishment of buildings and infrastructure at the remote Norwegian island.

Naval News – The Norwegian government today announced their new long-term defence plan for the period 2025 to 2036. Under the name of The Norwegian Defence Pledge, the plan envisions significant growth which not only will see the country reach NATO’s target of 2 % of GDP to defence already this year, but also see that figure pass 3 % towards the end of the period.

The Defense Post – Germany and Norway have begun constructing identical submarines to boost their maritime defense and strengthen military collaboration.

(Thanks to Alain)

USNI News – A United Kingdom Royal Navy frigate is joining Norwegian forces operating in the North Sea protecting gas pipelines following last week’s rupture of two Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic.

Navy Lookout – In 2021 the Accident Investigation Board – Norway (AIBN) published a detailed report covering the loss of HNoMS Helge Ingstad after she collided with an oil tanker in November 2018. There is much to be learned from this event that is applicable to the RN and global navies. In this in-depth, although far from exhaustive, article we describe the incident and look at some of the key lessons.

Barents Observer – Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Friday said the recent navy visit to Svalbard is the latest step by Oslo in a series of successive actions to include this territory in the sphere of national military development.

News in English – A unique underwater observatory in strategic waters off the coast of Northern Norway has been knocked out of service, after more than 4.3 kilometers of its specially designed offshore fiberoptic and electric cables were cut and then disappeared. Sabotage suspicions are rising, and the damage has been reported to both the military and state police intelligence agency PST.

1945 – James Holmes writes that stationing U.S. forces in a country under threat puts them in harm’s way, ensuring that the United States would fight if that country came under assault. The U.S. Army kept a “tripwire” brigade in West Berlin throughout the Cold War to put the Soviet leadership on notice that America would take up arms to defend that Western enclave behind the iron curtain and, by extension, would uphold its treaty commitments across Europe and the globe. Joint U.S.-Norwegian bases will perform a similar function vis-à-vis Russia today.

Business Insider – A recent deal between the US and Norway will expand the two countries’ defense cooperation, allowing the US to build facilities on Norwegian bases to support operations in a region where Russia’s military is increasingly active.

Barents Observer – Norway’ Minister of Defense, Frank Bakke-Jensen, on Friday signed an agreement with the United States allowing for, among other things, construction of hangar and fuel supply infrastructure for U.S. Navy P-8A maritime patrol aircraft at Evenes airport and the nearby Ramsund naval station.

Barents Observer – Four German-built submarines of the U212CD class will be delivered to the Norwegian Navy from 2029 at a cost of more than €1 billion per vessel.

Navy Recognition – Norway has agreed to order four submarines from Germany’s Thyssenkrupp. Norway and Germany, both NATO members, are jointly procuring identical submarines from Thyssenkrupp’s shipbuilding division.

(Thanks to Alain)

War Zone – Norway sold this once-secret sub base nearly a decade ago, but it has taken on new relevance as Russia steps up its activity in the region.

– RAND – Allied perspectives on strategic options for Norway.

– Barents Observer – There are forces that want to weaken unity in Norway, as well as between western countries, Prime Minister Erna Solberg underlined as she on Friday presented her government’s new long-term plan for the Armed Forces.

– Naval News – From January 1st, 2020, the Royal Norwegian Air Force set up a new Maritime helicopter wing: The 139 Air Wing of Bardufoss Air Station. The new unit will mainly focus on maritime missions, in which the Norwegian NH90 helicopters play a major role.

– Defense News – The bridge watch team on the stricken Norwegian frigate Helge Ingstad was distracted, inadequately trained and failed to take adequate precautions while transiting close to land, according to an accident report released Friday by the Norwegian government.

– NPR – There are precisely 525 stairs from the icy waters of the Barents Sea to the top of the observation post in the far northeast corner of Norway, along the Russian border. It’s a steep climb, but once you reach the apex, there’s a good chance one of the young Norwegian conscripts manning the outpost will have a platter of waffles — topped with strawberry jam and sour cream, a Norwegian favorite — waiting.

– Defense News – Norway’s accident investigation board is raising questions about the watertight integrity of the Nansen-class frigates and is pointing its finger at shipbuilder Navantia in the wake of the collision and subsequent sinking of the frigate Helge Ingstad in early November.