- Allocations for the three
services, the intelligence community and the Coast Guard are
increased by a combined total of NOK 500 million. This will enable
us to further strengthen our Northern Area strategy as well as our
capacity for UN- and NATO-led international operations. This budget
demonstrates the Government’s commitment to the Soria Moria
declaration’s ambitions for the defence sector, as well as its
commitment to continue the restructuring process in the Armed
Forces, says Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen.
Main aims and priorities
A new, more complex security environment demands a
more flexible defence structure able to handle a wide range of
tasks. The Government will hence actively continue the process of
restructuring the Armed Forces and preparing them for handling the
new security challenges. The Government will follow up on the
ambitions of the Soria Moria Declaration for the defence sector and
the current long-term plan for Norwegian Defence. Priority will be
given to units covering a broad range of tasks, with capacity for
rapid reaction and high deployability. To achieve this, and to
strengthen the Armed Forces’ operative capacity, a goal-oriented
use of investment funds is necessary. More personnel shall be made
available for operational activities. General conscription will be
maintained as a central part of the defence concept, adjusted to
the new times and based on the Armed Forces’ requirements.
The Government has stated in its
Soria Moria declaration that the Northern Area is Norway’s most
important strategic target area. The Armed Forces’ capacity for
solving tasks will be strengthened, in particular in terms of
presence and the exercise of sovereignty in the North. The
Government also prepares for active international engagement and
increased participation in UN-led operations.
Main figures
Within the operations and maintenance budget of NOK
21.7 billion, the Government wants to strengthen operational
activity in all services, the Coast Guard and the security
community with over NOK 500 million. This will result in increased
defence activity in the Northern Area, force production for
international operations, and the restructuring process in the
Armed Forces will continue.
The Government will return to the
issue of funding for possible new contributions to the UN operation
in Lebanon and a possible operation in Sudan when the cost levels
for 2007 are established. These costs are thus not included in the
current budget proposal. The Government will also make further
Norwegian military capabilities available should the situation in
current and any new conflict areas call for this.
The proposed budget for material
procurement represents an increase of NOK 30 millon in real terms,
amounting to a total of NOK 7.8 billon. Total investment in
nationally funded and NATO funded investments in building and
property projects amounts to NOK 1.5 billion. Investments in
nationally funded infrastructure projects are reduced by NOK 255
million.
The Army is given a high priority in the proposed
budget. Allocated funding is increased by NOK 309 million in real
terms. This increase is vital to strengthening the availability of
forces for international operations and for building up the Army to
the agreed goals for 2008. The Government’s ambition to increase
Norwegian participation in international peace- and stabilisation
operations under UN and NATO auspices is thus followed up. The Army
will in 2007 have sufficient personnel to contribute to two
international operations, each with units in the order of company
size, simultaneously and sustained over time. When the agreed
structure is in place in 2008, the Army will be able to maintain an
engagement of battalion size in international operations over a
period of three to five years.
The Navy’s proposed budget is strengthened with
NOK 69 million, which primarily will cover the phasing in of the
Fridtjof Nansen class frigates. Nationally, force production will
be based in the North of Norway where possible. The Hauk-class Fast
Patrol boats(FPB) that will be deployed to Lebanon will be
important for the UN operation, while at the same time increasing
the Navy’s competence, expertise and ability to contribute in
future international operations.
The Air Force sees a strengthening of its budget
by NOK 96 million. The increase will largely go towards maintenance
of F-16 fighters, C-130 Hercules transport aircrafts, P-3 Orion
maritime patrol aircrafts and DA-20 Electronic warfare aircrafts.
In addition, the number of flight hours for F-16 will increase in
2007.
The Home Guard’s budget amounts to NOK 1.275
billion, including NOK 210 million in investment funds, entailing a
continued priority of the Home Guard. The Government will give
priority to training for all Home Guard force categories and
increased operative activity compared to 2006. The Government
considers the possibility that Home Guard units can be used in
international operations, on a voluntary basis. The Government will
return to Parliament on this issue.
The Coast Guard’s proposed budget increases with
NOK 18 million in addition to the NOK 15 million increase the
Government introduced in the current budget. In addition, NOK 20
million will be allocated to alterations on the Coast Guard’s three
Nordkapp-class vessels. These alterations will reduce nitric acid
discharge levels by 30 percent, while also reducing fuel levels and
CO2 emissions. The budget increase will yield increased activity,
primarily in the Northern Area. Preparedness along the coast,
environmental monitoring and maritime rescue capacity will also be
strengthened. The Government places a special emphasis on
maintaining the capacity for sufficient and predictable reaction to
violations in areas under Norwegian jurisdiction, including
illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.
International peace operations.The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is
fundamental for stability and democracy in Afghanistan, and will
continue to be the main priority of our international military
engagement also in 2007. The Government also has a clear ambition
to increase Norwegian participation in UN-led missions, and has
offered to contribute with four MTB vessels to the UN-led operation
in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The Government is also prepared to contribute
with a larger engineer unit to a possible UN-led peace operation in
Darfur. Norway will also continue its participation in the UN led
missions UNMIS (Sudan), UNTSO (Middle East), UNMEE
(Ethiopia/Eritrea), and UNMIK (Kosovo).
More money for soldiers. The number of conscript
personnel will be kept at least at 2006 level. Women being called
up for a voluntary meeting for the conscription board is hoped to
increase the percentage of women entering the initial service.
Demobilisation allowance for 2007 is proposed to increase by NOK
2 100 to a total of NOK 23 000 for personnel who have finished
their 12 month initial service. In addition, the Government aims to
increase the demobilisation allowance to NOK 25 000 by the end
of 2008.
Material procurement budget. The level of the
material investment budget permits the continuation of the
modernisation process within the Armed Forces. The largest part of
the investment budget goes to modernize the naval forces, where the
main projects are new frigates, the new Skjold-class fast patrol
boats(FPB), helicopters to the coast guard and navy, as well as
system upgrades on the P-3/C Orion maritime patrol aircraft. For
land forces, the main investments will be armoured vehicles and
different types of equipment for the soldier. The dominant air
force investments projects for 2007 will be short range air-to-air
missiles and system upgrades for the F-16 Jet Falcon. Tactical
datalink, and a new Enterprice Resource planning system (ERP) are
also among the central investments.
