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Norwegian Defence throughout summer: equipment
During the summer numerous developments have taken place on the equipment front. Particularly the Royal Norwegian Navy has been strengthened during the summer months.
First frigate put to sea
The first of the new Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates was baptised in early June, and is now ready to take to the seas flying the Norwegian flag.
This is the first time in 40 years that Norway acquires new frigates, and the vessels are state of the art when it comes to technology. Norway has commissioned five new vessels, and the purchase is the single largest acquisition project that the Norwegian Defence has ever undertaken.
While the first vessel has finished construction at the Izar docks in Spain, and is ready to sail for Norway, there is still a significant amount of work waiting before the vessel is combat-ready. The weapons as well as most of the technical systems of the frigates are to be installed in Norway, which means that the first of the vessels will not be fully operational for another year.
BAPTISM: The First of the new frigates is baptised by Minister of Defence Kristin Krohn Devold. Photo: Torgeir Haugaard, FMS.
New MTBs in construction
The Norwegian Navy is also to be reinforced with six new Missile Torpedo Boats (MTBs). The first prototype- trials have now been completed, and after some modifications the remaining five vessels are now ready for construction.
With a top speed of sixty knots, the Norwegian Skiold-class MTBs will become one of the fastest combat vessels in the world.
The Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation is now preparing the weapons’ trials that are to ensure that the rebuilt hull of the vessel is, beyond any doubt, able to take the strain of live weapons firing. The weapons’ tests are scheduled for the beginning of September.
The Norwegian Navy is to have the crew for the first MTB ready in March 2005.
SKJOLD: The new Norwegian Missile Torpedo Boats will be among the fastest and most modern of naval vessels. Foto: Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation.
Revolutionary link
In a test run between civilian industry, the Norwegian Battle-lab and Experimentation (NOBLE) and the Norwegian ground-based personnel-surveillance radars were linked together into a central mapping unit.
The trials took place at the Norwegian Army’s border command at GSV in Finnmark, on the Russian-Norwegian border.
During the trials several independent radars transmitted their received information to a distant mapping table where the information was merged to form a complete image of the areas where the radars operated.
While the trials are still at an early stage, the Norwegian Army and NOBLE are encouraged by the progress, and expect that the system will eventually have the ability to incorporate not only a very large number of ground-based radars, but also several other types of sensors.
It is also expected that the new system, when operational, will include the ability to transmit information over large distances, with the object being transmission of live data from Norwegian forces abroad back to operational headquarters in Norway.
ONE BOARD: The surveillance data was all displayed on one board, as seen in the photograph. Photo: FMS.
New uniforms for the Army
After an extensive testing-period, the Norwegian Army has ordered a replacement of its field uniforms. The new uniforms, previously only used by Norwegian Special Forces personnel, will be produced by Norwegian clothing manufacturer Helly Hansen.
The new uniforms were supposed to have been issued to all members of the Army by 2004, but the process was delayed. The new uniforms are now scheduled to be delivered throughout the service year of 2004.
The contract won by Helly Hansen is valued at close to NOK 23 million, and 14 different manufacturers took part in the bidding process.
The Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation awarded the contract to Helly Hansen based both on their price, and the quality of their products.
MEMBRANE UNIFORMS: Norwegian Special Forces personnel have been using similar uniforms for more than a year. Photo: Torbjørn Kjosvold, FMS.
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