Title: With the Armed Forces into year 2000 - Continued Restructuring
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CONTINUED RESTRUCTURING
The Government will give priority to personnel, training and exercises without affecting the necessary modernisation of the Armed Forces. The Government will also over time stabilise the operational expenditures in order to implement the major investments after the turn of the millennium.
The last report, White Paper No. 16 (1992-93) introduced a comprehensive restructuring process. Substantial changes to the force structure and peace organisation of the Armed Forces have been implemented.
The outcome has so far added a sound basis to the future activities of the Armed Forces. The development has, nevertheless, resulted in shortcomings with regard to personnel policy, materiel investments, training and exercises. Thus, there is no room for transferring operational allocations to investments. The Government plans to consolidate the current level of operations over the next four years.
The Government will give priority to personnel, training, and exercises without causing damage to the modernisation of the Armed Forces. Hence, the restructuring of the Armed Forces during peace time must continue. The Government also emphasises to stabilise the operational expenditures over some time in order to implement major investments in progress for the next century.
Topic: New Escort Vessels
The safeguarding of our sea line of communication, both in coastal waters and on the high seas, is central to our invasion defence capability. This task is fulfilled today by four, originally five, OSLO Class frigates. They also assist in exercising our national sovereignty in Norwegian waters. From the point of view of the technology employed, the OSLO Class is nearing the end of its useful life and replacements will be required around the year 2005. The primary role of the new ships will be to combat the submarine threat while possessing a good all-round self-defence capability. Participation in multinational operations in the context of the Alliance and contributing to international peace operations are also among the roles envisaged. The procurement project for the new escort vessels is now in its introductory phases. It is anticipated that the contract with the main contractor will be signed towards the end of 1999 with the ships being delivered over the period 2004-2009. This is an extensive industrial project and much importance is attached to abiding by the industrial policy guidelines that have been laid down. An integrated project organisation has been set up for the purpose of defining the functional requirements for the new frigates. The organisation spans the defence authorities, Norwegian industry and the relevant research bodies. Norwegian industry will clearly benefit by participation in this project but procurement will only be from national contractors if industry can show that it is competitive in comparison with foreign suppliers. The Government is preparing for some of the costs associated with the procurement of new frigates to be treated as being additional to, or an extension of, the defence budget.
New Combat Aircraft
Combat aircraft are a fundamental prerequisite for a country to be able to exercise national sovereignty in its own airspace. In our own case the speed and flexibility of these aircraft are especially important because of our particular topography and long distances. Combat aircraft need, for example, to be able to carry out combat operations in North Norway from bases in the South.
In the event of war, combat aircraft form a critically important part of our anti-invasion defensive capability since air superiority also confers enormous advantages where operations on land and at sea are concerned. Modern combat aircraft can rapidly intercept enemy aircraft and prevent them from establishing control of our own airspace and from attacking targets on Norwegian territory. Control of the airspace is also central to ensuring that our Allies are able to come to our aid.
Combat aircraft also form an important contribution to international peace operations. In NATO's strategy and force structure, with the importance that it attaches to mobile and flexible forces, combat aircraft are a central element by virtue of their capacity for rapid reaction and their ability to operate over long distances while carrying substantial weapon loads.
Over the next few years the Air Force will be acquiring new combat aircraft to replace the existing F-5s which, after more than 30 years service, now need to be phased out. There is also a need to replace the F-16s that have been lost since they were first purchased around 1980. The purchase of a new combat aircraft is a major undertaking. The project will call for extensive resources in terms of both money and personnel.
The repercussions for Norwegian industry can be considerable. Offset agreements mean that Norwegian firms can win contracts worth hundreds of millions. This will give companies the opportunity to develop new expertise in fields of civil as well as military technology. Deliveries are planned to start after the end of the period covered by this report.