Norway’s Proposed FY 2007 Defense Budget

Norway’s government has proposed a defence budget for 2007 amounting to NOK 31 billion (about $4.65 billion), with increases in a number of areas. DID has covered their upcoming choice of a new fighter, the new hybrid-power patrol vessels being introduced, and the recent controversies around the Fridtjof Nansen Class AEGIS frigates. The new budget spotlights increased funding and ongoing investment needs in a number of sectors, including: * Higher priority to the Army (+NOK 309 million in real terms). The goal is to allow 2 international operations with company-sized units to be sustained, or an engagement of battalion size for 3-5 years. “For land forces, the main investments will be armoured vehicles [DID: see recent example] and different types of equipment for the soldier,” as well as improved soldier pay. Effective participation in ISAF and UN operations is a key goal, and the government has broached the subject of using Home Guard units in international operations on a voluntary basis. * Some increases to the Navy budget (+NOK 69 million in real terms), mostly to cover phasing in the new Fridtjof Nansen Class. In addition, The largest part of the investment budget goes to modernize the naval forces including […]