Structure of the Norwegian Army explained

The Structure of the Norwegian Army has seen considerable change over the years. In 2009, the Army introduced the new command and control organization. As of June 2021 the army is organized as follows:[1]

Chief of Staff

The Chief of the Army and the Army Staff are based in Bardufoss, Northern Norway.

Brigade Nord

Brigade Nord is the largest unit in the Norwegian Army. The Brigade has several battalions across Norway, including Telemark Battalion at Camp Rena, eastern Norway. One unnamed Armoured Battalion is under raising.

Brigade Command, in Bardufoss
Armoured Battalion (Norwegian: Panserbataljonen), in Setermoen with Leopard 2A4NO main battle tanks and CV90 infantry fighting vehicles
Telemark Battalion (Norwegian: Telemark Bataljon), in Rena with Leopard 2A4NO main battle tanks and CV90 infantry fighting vehicles
2nd Battalion (Norwegian: 2. Bataljon), in Skjold with Leopard 2A4NO main battle tanks and CV90 infantry fighting vehicles
Artillery Battalion (Norwegian: Artilleribataljonen), in Setermoen with K9 Thunder self-propelled artillery, and SLAMRAAM surface-to-air missiles + Short range air defense SHORAD
Combat Engineer Battalion (Norwegian: Ingeniørbataljonen), in Skjold
Signals Battalion (Norwegian: Sambandsbataljonen), in Bardufoss
Medical Battalion (Norwegian: Sanitetsbataljonen), in Setermoen
Combat Service Support Battalion (Norwegian: Stridstrenbataljonen), in Bardufoss
Military Police Company (Norwegian: Militærpoliti-kompaniet), in Bardufoss

Air defense

A SHORAD battery unit is under establishment in the artillery battalion, expected to be operative in 2024.[2] [3]

Finnmark Land Command

Finnmark Land Command (Norwegian: Finnmark Landforsvar), in Porsangmoen[4] [5] [6] is in charge of safeguarding Norway's northernmost land territories and the land border to Russia. It is a joint command, including an army staff and army and Home Guard units. It is decided to convert Finnmark Land Command to a brigade.

Finnmark Land Command Staff, in Porsangmoen
Porsanger Battalion (Norwegian: Porsanger Bataljon), cavalry battalion in Porsangmoen with CV90 infantry fighting vehicles[7]
Ranger Battalion GSV (Norwegian: Jegerbataljonen GSV), infantry battalion in Høybuktmoen guarding the Norway–Russia border
17th Home Guard District Finnmark (Norwegian: Finnmark Heimevernsdistrikt 17), in Porsangermoen

Norwegian Army Land Warfare Centre

Other units

Special forces

The Army's special forces unit Norwegian: [[Forsvarets Spesialkommando]] (FSK) is no longer part of the army. With the establishment of the Norwegian Special Operations Command in 2014, Norway's two special forces units (FSK and Norwegian: [[Marinejegerkommandoen]]) were united under the one command in the Norwegian Armed Forces, with the Air Force's 339 Special Operations Aviation Squadron at Rygge Air Station joining later as the SOC's air force component.[9] [10] [11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Army . 20 June 2021 . Forsvaret.
  2. Web site: Contract to deliver Mobile Ground Based Air Defence to the Norwegian Army worth 583 MNOK .
  3. Web site: March 2019 . Future acquisitions for the Norwegian Defence Sector 2019–2026 . PDF.
  4. https://www.forsvaret.no/soldater-og-ansatte/regelverk/English-NORAF.pdf/_/attachment/inline/30db7135-ff83-475c-a151-22894164b8f8:e6756e51768d437889c9fc0af3ded409177cafba/English-NOV2020.pdf
  5. Web site: Viktig satsing i nord . 30 June 2020 . ddd.
  6. Web site: Nye Finnmark landforsvar: Slik blir styrkingen i nord . 30 June 2020 . ddd.
  7. Web site: Dette er Finnmarks nye bataljon . 30 June 2020 . Norwegian Armed Forces.
  8. Web site: Centre of Excellence – Cold Weather Operations . 9 January 2023 . Norwegian Armed Forces.
  9. Web site: The Norwegian Special Forces .
  10. Web site: 9 August 2021 . Forsvarets spesialstyrker .
  11. Web site: 339 special operations aviation squadron (SOAS) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210129103156/https://www.forsvaret.no/om-forsvaret/organisasjon/forsvarets-spesialstyrker/339-special-operations-aviation-squadron-soas . 2021-01-29 . 2021-09-26.