OSLO, Norway–Norway’s military anticipates its long-term budget boost being approved by its parliament in early November, according to Norwegian Defence Ministry spokeswoman Ann Kristin Salbuvik
Norway is preparing to ramp up its defense spending, starting in 2017, with what its defense minister, Ine Eriksen Søreide, called on Sept. 9 a historic increase in funding. Norway plans to boost its budget gradually over the next four years to eventually reach $874 million more than what it spent in 2016.
Norway also wants to spend an additional $20 billion, spread out over the next 20 years, on its military, according to a June white paper. Norway’s defense budget is roughly $5.5 billion, according to a Norwegian defense official, less than 1 percent of the U.S. budget, which was $573 billion for fiscal year 2016.
Søreide on Sept. 9 told sister publication Defense Daily that Norway was planning to eventually meet U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter’s goal of NATO partners spending at least 2 percent of their GDP on defense, but she could not put a timetable on this occurring. Søreide emphasized how Norway was spending its money was more important than a certain amount.
During a joint press conference in Oslo on Sept. 9 with Søreide, Carter lauded Norway for being one of eight NATO nations that spent 20 percent of its budget on equipment. Norway, in 2015, spent 1.5 percent of its GDP on defense, according to the World Bank. Norway’s 2015 GDP was $388.3 billion.
Søreide said Norway would be investing some of its additional money on “strategic capabilities.” A Norwegian defense official said Sept. 9 a battle was taking place in Norwegian public discourse over whether its military should spend its new defense money on additional force structure or platforms, including new frigates and submarines. He said new submarines are possibly arriving in 2026. The official said Norway is currently reducing its force structure.
Norway is in the middle of a major acquisition program with the F-35. The Norwegian defense official said the country was slated to receive its first conventional F-35A in 2017 and that it would become operational in 2022. He added Norway was adding a drag chute to the back of the aircraft to help it slow down faster on icy runways. The F-35 will replace Norway’s F-16s.
Norway is also looking to replace its P-3 aircraft. Though she wasn’t ready to commit to a platform or a number of aircraft to be purchased, Søreide said the defense ministry sent Norway’s parliament a memo calling the maritime patrol aircraft a strategic platform. The Norwegian defense official said the nation was targeting the P-8 and that only discussions had begun. He added Norway’s P-3s can operate another 10-15 years due to upgrades. Fellow NATO member the United Kingdom is buying P-8s, which are developed by Boeing [BA].
Norway plans other acquisitions for its long-term defense plan. It wants to buy four new submarines and make significant investments in modern air defense systems by introducing longer-range weapons to Norway’s current NASAMS II system. It also wants dedicated, long range air defense systems.
One capability Norway will not be procuring are aircraft carriers. Søreide said though she would like to buy a carrier, Norway would not be purchasing any. Norway was rumored to be in the market for an aircraft carrier. The Norwegian defense official noted the country does not have any carriers. He added that Norway could fit its entire air force on a U.S. aircraft carrier.
In addition to its spending boost in its long-term plan, Norway anticipates finding nearly $303 million in efficiencies through what it called reductions in bureaucracy.