Norwegian defense investments

[Savage]

After hard pressure from USA, Norway has decided to contine the JSF program, and may be tried forced to buy the Joint Strike Fighters.

Norway is a socalled level 3 partner. GB is today USA`s only level 1 partner, while Netherland and Italy are on level 2. Other level 3 countries are Denmark, Turkey, Australia and Canada.
The level determines how much insight that are allowed in the project, the infuence on it, and the national contracts for sub producers, and also how high one are priorized in the delievery process. The first planes are expected to be delivered in 2011.

The descition does not mean that Norway nescessarily will choose the JSF. There are today 4 candidates to choose from, the US JSF, the swedish JAS 39 Gripen, the french Rafaele and Eurofighter Typhoon. The latter is a consortium between Germany, Italy, Spain and GB.

The investment will be the largest Norwegian investment ever, and the amount are estimated to about 40 millard 2005 Nok, or more than 5 milliard 2005 Euros.

Of course a development like the scheduled binds our dependence too close to USA/England/Israel.

More from source

[Savage]

Yesterday arrived our newest fragatt KNM «Fridtjof Nansen» to Oslo.


Link to the Norwegian navys homesite on KNM "Fritjof Nansen"

This is the first in a deliverance of 5 fregatts buildt in Spain, with a total price, armed and with helicopters, estimated to about 21 milliard Nok, close to 8 milliard Euros. It will lay in Oslo for about one week now.

After testings at sea, the fregatt are expected to be operative by newyear.
All 5 are expected to be operative within 2010.

The ship will be open for the public this weekend, and as it nearly lays outside my window, I look forward to visit it.

On the 7.Juni, also King Harald and King Carlos visits KNM «Fridtjof Nansen».
Wikipedia on KNM_" Fritjof_Nansen"

http://www.mil.no/sjo/keskdr/overfla...yer/trondheim/

[Savage]

Flexibility and combat power Source



New frigates are necessary to be able to defend our sea lines of communication, secure sea areas and participate in international maritime peace keeping operations.

The delivery schedule calls for one new frigate each year from spring 2006, while the remaining four vessels will be completed with one year intervals in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

The programme comprises delivery of 5 multipurpose frigates to the Royal Norwegian Navy. Each frigate will be equipped with one medium size organic helicopter. The project marks the beginning of a new era for the Norwegian Navy, and will enable it to undertake a new and modern role both in the defence of Norway and in operations abroad. The project which, in monetary terms alone, is the largest the Norwegian Defence has ever undertaken.

Great improvement
The new frigates, called the Fridtjof Nansen-class after the heroic Norwegian explorer and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen, are set to replace the current Oslo-class vessels by 2008. The new frigates will prove a great improvement over their predecessors both in size, personnel, capabilities and equipment. Compared to the old Oslo-class vessels, the new ships will be 35 meters longer, nine meters taller and two meters deeper below water. They will also be five meters broader and have three times the water displacement of the old ships. This will go a great way to solving one of the problems with the Oslo-class: lack of space and much discomfort for the crew.

The crews of the new ships will be made up of 120 personnel in total, 50 of which will be officers, 40 contracted personnel and 30 conscripted sailors. The vessels will have room for 146 people on board. The larger influx of officers and contracted personnel comes as a result of the high technological demands put down by the new equipment, as well as the Navy's desire to keep their crews on duty for longer periods of time. This will ensure mission-continuity, as well as a higher level of professional excellence for the crews.

Trained for two years
The Navy has already begun an extensive recruitment program among personnel already in service, and expects to have the primary skeleton crew of officers for the first vessel selected and in training by August 2003. The remaining crew for the first vessel will be added in 2004 and 2005 and until the Navy takes command of KNM Fridtjof Nansen in 2005, the training of the crew will take place on KNM Horten.

The Fridtjof Nansen vessels will also have extensive medical capabilities on board in order to facilitate them when operating away from shore for extensive periods of time, and to make the vessels more flexible for operations abroad.

Nato-command in 2008
The Fridtjof Nansen-class will be doing extensive service with NATO's permanent Atlantic forces as of 2008, and one of the frigates will be permanently sailing as part of the command as of that year. Until then Norway will, as in the past, continue to contribute to this force, but is unable to retain a permanent presence.

[Savage]

Delievery schedule

The word schedule fits well; from Hebrew, schemahaphorash, (the plan of creation), as we still are under untolerable US and Israelian influence. However the ships will be named after our greatest explorers. Quite tactical, .... "Fritjof Nansen".

I must also use the oppurtunity to brag of my conversations with Helge Ingstad. We shared tent in Alta November 1979, under the civil disobedience action that marked a new era for the Sami nation. Helge was about 80 years then, but still bright and sharp edged. The temperature outside was down to - 30 celcius at night. Cool enough for a man like Ingstad. These men are something to be proud of beeing tribesmen with.

I also had an exhibition some years ago at the Russian embassy in Oslo, and came and went as it suited me. Strange feeling. I just hailed the guards, they had orders to let me in.... And what throned on a pedestal on the honour place, oh yes, a bronze head of Fritjof Nansen. As I said above, a very tactical name.

Mr.Heyerdahl I am not so happy about, the last thing he did, was what I consider discrediting Norse heritage, by calling Odin a turk. There may have been a chief called Odin, but Mr.Heyerdahl forgets to distinct between the spiritual Odin, and any chief that may have carried that name.

Otto Sverdrup has for long lived in the shadow of Amundsen, and it is high time that he is honored as deserved. On Amundsen there should be unnescssary wtith any comments.

Source

2005: F 310 HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen
2006: F 311 HNoMS Roald Amundsen
2007: F 312 HNoMS Otto Sverdrup
2008: F 313 HNoMS Helge Ingstad
2009: F 314 HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl

The first vessel of the new class of frigates will be named the HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen. The HNoMS Roald Amundsen named after the first man on the South Pole, to be delivered in 2006.

HNoMS Otto Sverdrup named after the famous Norwegian Arctic explorer, to be delivered in 2007.

HNoMS Helge Ingstad named after the explorer and adventurer who proved Norwegians were the first to sail across the Atlantic to discover America, replacing Columbus' name in the history books with Leiv Ericsson's, to be delivered in 2008.

HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl named after the famous leader of the Ra and Kon-Tiki expeditions, to be delivered in 2008.

[Savage]

US keeps pushing Norway to buy Joint Strike Fighter jets
Source

US President George W Bush's new man in Oslo applied some not-so-subtle pressure on Norway to buy US Joint Strike Fighter jets this week, saying a failure to do so would weaken military operations between the countries. Not true, responded a top Norwegian military official.

The US wants Norway to commit to its Joint Strike Fighter program. Here's one of the JSF jets landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.


PHOTO: REUTERS / SCANPIX

"No matter what type of fighter jet we decide to buy, it will be NATO-compatible,"
Espen Barth Eide of the Defense Ministry told newspaper Aftenposten on Tuesday.

Barth Eide was responding to remarks made by US Ambassador Benson K Whitney during a speech Monday before The Norwegian Atlantic Committee, an independent organization that aims to increase understanding of Norwegian foreign, military and security policy.

In otherwise general remarks aimed at nurturing relations between the US and Norway, Whitney made it clear that he and his president want Norway to commit to buying Joint Strike Fighters from Lockheed Martin. The F-35 JSF jets would be produced at Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth division in Texas, Bush's home state.

The JSF program aims to build three versions of the same single-engine stealth fighter plane for the US and eight allied nations. It represents a huge investment and billions of dollars are at stake, making it critical for the US defense industry that foreign partners play along.

"Norway's continued participation in the Joint Strike Fighter program would maximize our continued ability to work together globally," said Whitney in prepared remarks. " I hope that going forward with this decision will be seen as not just an economic issue, but also one of critical strategic importance." He maintained that the US and Norway must use the same technological platform to ensure that they can mount military operations together.

Political observers listening to his speech had no doubts that the US will evaluate Norway's final decision on the jet fighters as an indication of how closely Norway wants to cooperate with the US.

Asked whether the lack of a Norwegian commitment to the JSF program would damage relations between the two countries, Whitney avoided answering directly. "My point is that our ability to operate together will be weakened," he told Aftenposten, if Norway buys its jet fighters from a producer outside the US.

'Just doing his job'
Barth Eide of the Norwegian Defense Industry said he was neither surprised nor angry that the US ambassador was doing his job by trying to sell the American fighter jets. Barth Eide noted, however, that NATO's fleet of jets already is varied and not dependent on jets of the same make.

Norwegian officials have also complained earlier that Norwegian sub-contractors have been snaring few contracts for work on the JSF program. Norway also has other jet fighter options, not least the rival Eurofighter program.

The Dallas Morning News reported earlier this month that Barth Eide had sent an e-mail to the Pentagon procurement chief Kenneth Krieg, informing him that "the Norwegian government (had)... decided to continue its participation" in developing the JSF F-35 jet. Barth Eide added, however, that the decision "is not a commitment to purchasing the JSF, and we will continue our dialogue also with the other potential suppliers."

Barth Eide told Aftenposten on Tuesday that Norway will prioritize its operational needs, the price of the jets and the quality, along with the opportunities Norwegian industry stand to get from the program.

"If we end up buying fighter jets other than the JSF, it doesn't mean we're turning our back on the US," he said.

[Savage]

Link to photos from strategic arctic outpost



It's not easy to travel out to Bjørnøya. This coast guard ship was spotted off the island's southern tip, where fishing grounds are patrolled and vessels are standing by for others needing assistance.

Official homesite for Bjørnøya



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bjørnøya

[Savage]

Spain's King Juan Carlos visited the Norwegians Defense's new frigate,
the spanish buildt KNM "Fridtjof Nansen" on Wednesday. Link to pics



King Harald and Spain's King Juan Carlos were on board the new Norwegian frigate KNM "Fritjof Nansen" which was berthed in Oslo.
All public communication in Oslo were one hour late, while the boys were onboard enjoying their brandies and cigars, having all the fun.



Queen Sofia of Spain in front of the National Gallery's version of Munch's "Skriket" - The Scream.

This version of "The Scream" are for the moment not stolen.

Oslo decked out for royal visit Source

The king and queen of Spain landed in Oslo Monday for a state visit that most observers agree is long overdue. The delay is widely tied to their son's former romance with a top Norwegian model.

Norway's Crown Prince Haakon (far right) was on hand at the airport to welcome King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia to Norway.
Oslo's main boulevard, Karl Johans Gate, was adorned with red and gold banners from the Parliament to the Royal Palace. Spain's red and gold flag waved alongside the Norwegian flag along the waterfront, in front of City Hall and elsewhere around town.

It's no coincidence that the visit comes just after Norway's Navy took delivery of the first of several frigates built at a Spanish shipyard. One of the vessels, the pride of the Norwegian Navy, sailed into Oslo's harbor last Thursday and is tied up just below the stately old Akershus Festning, waiting for another royal visit after Norway's own King Harald went on board over the weekend.

Now King Juan Carlos will inspect the vessel as well, along with King Harald. Their wives, Queen Sofia and Queen Sonja respectively, will visit the newly re-opened Ibsen Museum and Ullevål University Hospital.

The Spanish royals will also pay courtesy calls on the president of the Norwegian Parliament, Thorbjørn Jagland, and Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg before heading for Bergen on Thursday. From there, they'll fly out to the North Sea and visit the Troll A oil platform.

The Norwegian royal couple made a state visit to Spain in 1995, and it's taken their Spanish counterparts 11 years to return the visit that normally is expected within five years. The official reason was a lack of time on the part of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, but unofficially it's been said that the royal staffs at both the Norwegian and Spanish palaces wanted to wait until Spanish Crown Prince Felipe's well-known romance with Norwegian model Eva Sannum had cooled down.

Neither side wanted the romance to divert attention from the royals themselves. Now Felipe is married to a former Spanish broadcast journalist, and they have a daughter. Eva Sannum is working as a text writer at an Oslo ad agency. The red carpets could be rolled out in Oslo for Juan Carlos and Sofia.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Thore Hund

It's no coincidence that the visit comes just after Norway's Navy took delivery of the first of several frigates built at a Spanish shipyard. One of the vessels, the pride of the Norwegian Navy, sailed into Oslo's harbor last Thursday and is tied up just below the stately old Akershus Festning, waiting for another royal visit after Norway's own King Harald went on board over the weekend.

Now I know why I haven't been able to find a welder with naval experience!

[Savage]

Defence: Dispute over frigate contract... Source


The Spanish shipyard Navantia which is building five frigates for the Norwegian Navy is demanding more money than first agreed, claiming the quality standards demanded by the Norwegian defence is too high.

In a letter to the Norwegian Defence Command, Navatia points out that the Norwegian demand for quality has resulted in an extra 570,000 working hours spent on the first frigate KNM "Fridtjof Nansen" which was delivered to the Norwegian Navy in May.

If this fiddling work is to continue, the yard says it will send an extra bill for NOK 650 million.

- We have our standards for quality, and Navantia is not in agreement with these, says information director Birgitte Frisch of the Defence Logistics Division. This has at times led to our demand that the job be done over again, she says.

Representatives from the Norwegian Defence and Navantia will now meet to discuss the dispute.'

[Savage]

JSF: US pressure on Norway Source

The fight to acquire the contract for new jet fighters with the Norwegian Air Force is getting tougher, NRK reports. Lockheed Martin says Norway will weaken its alliance with the US, if it does not choose their Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

The Norwegian Defence authorities have over the past weeks met with all producers of jet fighters, in order to better compare their offers of sub-contracts to Norwegian industry.

Four producers in all are competing for the NOK billion contract for the delivery of new fighterbombers to the Norwegian Air Force, when the old F-16 jet fighters will be scrapped in a few years.

The choice is still between the Swedish JAS Gripen, the Eurofighter, the French Dassault Rafale and the US Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Norway has so far invested NOK 550 million in the joint development program for the JSF, together with 8 other nations and Lockheed Martin.

- It would send unfortunate political signals to the US, if Norway would pull out of the JSF cooperation, says Lockheed Martin director Kevin Dwyer in an interview with NRK Radio.

- We have been allies with Norway for quite a while. Some times friends disagree, and that is all right. But it is important to stick together at critical moments, Dwyer says.

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