– Breaking Defense – The UK, Norway and the US have signed an agreement to work together on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) in the North Atlantic which will leverage the joint acquisition of the P-8 aircraft, another example of the US and its allies an evolving defense capability in which allies are clearly key partners. The P-8s is part of a cluster of software upgradeable airplanes which are defining the way ahead for combat airpower: the Australian Wedgetail, the global F-35, and the Advanced Hawkeye, all have the same dynamic modernization potential to which will be involved in all combat challenges of maritime operations.

– Independent Barents Observer – Packed with radar- and communication humps on the roof, the 125-meter long new “Marjata” came to Kirkenes Monday morning.

– FoxtrotAlpha – When it was launched it looked like nothing else. Its pizza slice-like design made it one of the most stable ships for its size and it has since spawned a whole new class of crazy looking vessels. Yet this clandestine spy ship is most notorious in Russia, whose military absolutely detests its existence. Meet Norway’s Marjata, one of the most advanced spy ships in the world.

– Defense News – When navies gather this summer in the warm waters near Hawaii for the biannual Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises, among them will be at least one warship more at home in the cold waters of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. The Norwegian frigate Fridtjof Nansen will take part in RIMPAC, aiming to launch a Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) at a target ship provided by the US Navy.

BBC – Norway resorts to ship-watching from space

Norway’s coastline is huge. The mainland’s rim stretches for more than 2,500km but if you measure it to include all the fjords and nooks and crannies, it comes out at more than 25,000km. Little wonder then that the Scandinavian nation relies heavily on satellites to help it monitor what’s going on around its territory. And it has a fascinating mission, using a nano-sat, launching in the next few days that will enable it to keep even better watch on its waters.

Defense Technology International – Winter Warfare

Cold Response 2010, the multi-national, cold weather military exercise hosted by Norway above the Arctic Circle recently ended. More than 8,500 troops from 14 nations participated in the 16-day exercise in and around northern Norway’s coast and a sliver of neighboring Sweden. Participants included the U.S., Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Sweden and Poland.

Barents Observer – Norwegian submarines need base in Northern Norway

Norwegian submarines are instructed to sail more outside Northern Norway, but lack important support facilities on land, one year after Norway abandoned its Arctic base of Olavsvern.

Defense Technology International – Norway’s futuristic, high-speed, next-generation surface-effect-ship naval craft are no longer being called “MTBs” or “FPBs” but now are officially designated to be “corvettes.”
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Defense Technology International – The Norwegian Chief of Defense is to present his proposal for the country’s next multi-year defense plan on Monday Nov. 5 — and the Skjold-class program to acquire six super-fast (60-kt.) littoral combat craft is expected to be one of the main casualties.
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Xinhua – The Norwegian Government is now ready to send four missile/torpedo boats with a crew of 100 to join in UN operations in Lebanese waters.
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Norway Post – The US elite force Navy Seals has shown considerable interest in the Norwegian high speed patrol boats of the “Skjold” class, built with stealth technology. This makes the vessels difficult to detect by radar.
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BBC – A Russian trawler which fled with two Norwegian fisheries officials on board after they inspected its catch is nearing Russian territorial waters.
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BBC – A Norwegian submarine on a UK-organised military exercise has collided with a tanker in the Minch.
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