Air Defence in Northern Europe
Air Defence in Northern EuropeAIRPOWER AFTER WORLD WAR II
Norway
The post-war RNAF consisted of seven squadrons, of which three were fighter squadrons, two light bomber squadrons and two reconnaissance squadrons. It received its four first jets, De Havilland Vampire F 3s, in the spring of 1948, and eventually acquired 62 of these altogether. The aircraft had a short service life, however, and the last of the country’s original jets was grounded for good in 1956.13
Norway became a founder member of NATO when it was established in 1949, and as a representative of the organizations northern flank, the country was to possess eight fighter squadrons of 25 planes each.12 The American military aid and assistance program contributed in all to the procurement of 206 Thunderjet F-84 E/G fighter aircraft.13
During the 1950s one type of aircraft after another made its appearance at short intervals. Pilots became familiar with the jet trainers T-33 or T-bird, the Sabre F-85 F was introduced in 1955, and later a new version, the F-86 K. After a little less than a decade with Thunderjets and Sabres, F-104 Starfighter aircraft were purchased in the early 1960s, representing the high technology of the era. After a couple of years yet another new fighter, the F-5 Freedom Fighter, was added to the RNAF inventory.13
In June 1975 Belgium, Denmark, Holland and Norway concluded an agreement to purchase and assemble a new fighter, the F-16 A/B. The RNAF received its first F-16 in January 1980 and the last of the total batch of 72 aircraft was delivered in June 1984. One special item of equipment supplied for the Norwegian F-16 fighters was a drag chute to combat the occasionally slippery runways in Norway.12
The F-16 fighters are deployed in four squadrons at two air bases, Rygge and Bodö. Together with the F-5 Freedom fighters, of which 15 have been selected to be modernized continue in service up to 2000, the F-16s form the backbone of the Norwegian fighter defence. This can be strengthened by NATO additions if the situation so demands. The F-16s are being subjected to a mid-life Update (MLU) during this decade, with the aim of making this originally clear weather fighter capable of all weather interception.l2
In addition to their air defence task, the F-16s also are earmarked for use on the anti-shipping missions, armed with Norwegian Penguin Mk.3 anti-ship missiles.
The long coastline of Norway emphasizes the importance of maritime surveillance and the wartime operations Catalina and Sunderland have been succeeded by maritime patrols carried out by 7 Lockheed P-3B Orion aircraft. These operate from Andoya and cooperate with other NATO surveillance aircraft over the northern sea areas.
The anti-aircraft troops in Norway are organized under the Inspector of Air Defence. They received their first weapons from the arsenal which the Germans left behind, after which they acquired five British AMES 21 stations in 1946, including surveillance radar, height measuring radar, a control wagon and power supply. Three categories of control center, Control and Reporting Center, Control and Reporting Post and Reporting Post, were established in the late 1940s. The purchasing of long-range radar was initiated in 1953, when four British NT-960 stations were acquired. In the same year American aid brought TPS-lD surveillance radar devices and TPS-1OD height measuring radars,l8 and in the mid-1950s American support provided FPS-8 surveillance radar systems, which were modified in 1964 to the FPS-88 standard. FPS-6 height measuring radars were also supplied.
A new era began in 1961, when Norway’s radar network was integrated into the NATO Early Warning System. After that developments took place at the same rate as in other NATO countries. The NADGE system, reaching from Nordkap to Turkey, was completed in 1972, and new SINDRE radar stations were built in the 1980s.l8
Norway received its first new guns in 1950, again as American aid. These 90 mm M1A2 models with modern central computers replaced the old heavy guns. Other material was also purchased at that time, so that by 1953 the RNAF had 45 heavy and 40 light anti-aircraft artillery batteries, in addition to the 21 batteries operated by Home Defence. The light batteries were equipped with Swedish Bofors 40 mm guns, but new 40 mm L/ 70 guns were purchased in 1958 to replace the older weapons. A central radar computer system, RSS-40 SkyGuard, was acquired in the 1980s for fire control in connection with these guns.l8
The short-range anti-aircraft weaponry was renewed in the 1960s with the purchase of four 12.7 mm barrel machine guns and two 20 mm barrel FK20-2 cannons. Commissioning of the Nike missile batteries, purchase of which had been decided on in 1957, began in 1959, and operative readiness was reached in 1960. The missiles used were of two kinds at first, Ajax and Hercules, but from 1969 on only one type, the Nike Hercules, was used. The system was modified in 1971 to conform to the Nike Improved level, which meant better accuracy, thrust and electronic jamming resistance. A new modification project to improve the interception of fast, low flying targets, known as the SAMCAP level, was accomplished in 1975. The last modification was carried out in 1983 by installing new microprocessors in the system according to the NATO Nike Support Plan.
In the early 1980s Norway was studying alternative middle-range anti-aircraft missile systems. The candidates were Roland I and II, Rapier and Hawk. When the USA rejected the Roland II system, Norway had to recommence its evaluation. The eventual choice was the Hawk, which had been developed to the level of the Improved Hawk. This was further modified to NOAH, or Norwegian Adapted Hawk. From the late 1980s onwards Norway has been buying more Swedish RB-70 missiles, which were already in use in the 1970s, to replace its L-40 artillery guns.l8
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Revised: tammikuu 02, 2006.