Luftforsvaret / Royal Norwegian Air Force
The Royal Norwegian Air Force utilizes modern capacities such as F-16 fighters, Bell 412 helicopters and more, and has a strong focus towards international operations. Sin ce the year 2000 the Royal Norwegian Air Force has participated with helicopters, F-16 fighters and C-130 cargo planes for operations in areas such as Bosnia- and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Lithuania and Afghanistan. P3 Orion Surveillance planes have also operated out of Italy in order to patrol the Mediterranean (Operation Active Endeavour).
Peacetime force is approximately 1430 employees (officers, enlisted staff and civilians). 600 personnel are also serving their one-year national service. The mobilization force is approximately 5500 personnel. The Air Force consists of 7 air stations, 2 CRCs (Control and Reporting Centres), 2 educational centres, 10 squadrons with aircraft and helicopters and 2 surface-to-air missile battalions.
The Air Force as of 2002 had 58 F-16s, six medium and ten short range ground based air defence batteries, six transport aircraft, 18 tactical helicopters and six maritime patrol aircraft. During the 1990s, the downsizing was targeted toward fighters and ground based air defence. The termination in 2000 of the planned procurement of new combat aircraft to replace the F-5 fighter aircraft and the lost F-16s has gave the defence procurement authorities somewhat greater freedom of action for a time. The updated F-16 in service would, however, require replacement in the longer term. The support aircraft and helicopters have been maintained at the same level. Reduced readiness and base closures cut active personnel from about 9000 to 5000 over the ten years. Towards 2005, the air bases structure and the ground based air defence batteries were further reorganised and reduced. The number of reserve personnel was to a large extent constant to enable mobilisation of civilian airfields for allied reinforcements in times of crises and war.
The Air Force had [as of 2010] 57 F-16 fighters, 6 NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) batteries, 12 Sea King Search and Rescue Helicopters, 6 P-3 Orion maritime patrol planes, 6 Hercules C-130 transport planes, 6 Lynx coastguard helicopters, 18 Bell 412 helicopters and 3 DA-20 Jet Falcon electronic warfare planes.
Each air station has an air wing and a logistics organization. The air wing runs the operational activity - the heart of the Air Force. The stations and the logistics organizations offer infrastructure and support to the air wings to enable them to perform their operational tasks. The Control and Reporting Centres monitor Norwegian air space, and are a part of NATO's air monitoring service. The education centres contribute to enhancing the educational and experience level in the Norwegian Defence and the RNoAF.
The Air Force organisation includes a total of nine major facilities:
- Bodø Main Air Station
- Ørland Main Air Station
- Andøya Air Station
- Bardufoss Air Station
- Gardermoen Air Station
- Rygge Air Station
- Sola Air Station
- Sørreisa Air Defence Center
- Mågerø Air Defence Center
On 28 March 2008 the Government presented the new long-term plan for the Armed Forces: A Defence for the protection of Norway's security, interests and values.
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