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According to Norwegian Army Chief of Staff Maj Gen Roar Haugen, the plan calls for a manning level of 40,000 after mobilisation, but the real figure is "more likely to be around 20,000 plus". Under the government's plan the army, which today can mobilise six brigades, will be reorganised where the major elements are the 6th Division with only two brigades, an international operations deployment force organised within a brigade framework, a ranger battalion and a border guard company. The battalion-strength King's Guard and "up to 20 independent mobile field companies" will also be retained. Despite misgivings voiced by others within the officer corps, Gen Haugen believes that, given current funding levels, the army has made the best deal that it could. "The result, what is in the proposition, is the best result we could come up with, but none of the services are happy." Gen Haugen says in the past the three services have been unrealistic in their planning and this led to an imbalance between the budget and requirements. He adds that there are dangers the armed forces will be pushed back to this situation. "My worry is that there are already suggestions [by politicians] to add one more brigade, motor torpedo boats or more aircraft and that this will put us back in the imbalance unless long-term commitment to an increased budget level is achieved." He suggests that in the end it is a "political decision whether they are comfortable with the level of protection and international involvement" the plan provides, but that it "is the most realistic we can hope to realise". Gen Haugen says the army has looked into the problems of overstretching the force. "The studies we have done ourselves indicate clearly that if you are faced with a national responsibility of threshold defence or crisis management, the size of the territory means you need a volume so you can face a challenge in more than one spot." According to Gen Haugen, if the army "faces a challenge at home while having international responsibilities abroad [that cannot quickly be dropped]" a critical mass of four brigades is necessary. To accompany the reduction in the force levels there will be a similar reduction and reorganisation of the command structure. Half of the army's bases will close, leaving 10. Several army commands will be co-located with Home Guard commands. Gen Haugen does not believe that this reorganisation will cause any problems. "We have had an officer corps and civilian staff that have been waiting for a radical solution, now we have one." Gen Haugen says that the current "motorised infantry concept is one that we would like to convert into something lighter". He adds that the army's existing inventory of vehicles includes many that have minimal protection and that the army would benefit from having more widespread, lighter vehicles. "This is a transition from the situation we have today; mechanised battalions and tracked vehicles, including the [Hägglunds Vehicle] Bv 206 and Bv 202." Asked whether this would mean looking into purchasing wheeled-armoured personnel carriers, Gen Haugen said: "Not yet. We need to convert a lot of what we have in the inventory to make it as robust as possible." Gen Haugen says his staff is examining a light force framework using "snow scooters and six-wheeled motorbikes", but that what the army really needs is a mix of platforms. "With our type of terrain I don't think we can switch totally from a tracked concept to a wheeled concept." The army is also "very satisfied" with its purchase of 52 ex-Royal Netherlands Army Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks, but "they are not going to replace [the army's] 170 Leopard 1s", says Gen Haugen (JDW 7 February). However, there will be "some reduction in the total number to 150 units". According to Gen Haugen, the plan is to base the new Leopards in the south of the country for use with the rapid reaction force. On the question of upgrading the Leopard 2A4s to the A6 standard, Gen Haugen says "we haven't come that far yet" but adds that rather than upgrade plans there are "sophistication plans" looking at Norwegian solutions to the communications system and armour. He notes that among the projects on the army's procurement 'wish list' are unmanned air vehicles, a new assault rifle and new anti-tank weapons. He says the army is watching with interest the UK's Light Forces Anti-Tank Guided Weapon competition between Raytheon's Javelin and Rafael's Gill/Spike to see whether either will offer a solution for the service's requirement for a medium-range weapon. The service still has a desire to introduce an attack helicopter capability, however, Gen Haugen says: "We don't see procurement money for this on this side of 2010." Although Norway will participate in the planned EU rapid reaction force, Gen Haugen stresses that NATO will remain the cornerstone of Norway's defence. "Our [defence] basis is clearly in NATO." However, he says that it will be "interesting to see how this [EU force] is gradually established. The timeframe of 2003 seemed optimistic, but now they have some momentum". He adds that although Norway has identified forces that could be used by the EU, all these already have a place in the NATO structure and that the assignment "is more a technical and political movement". - DARREN LAKE JDW Staff Reporter Bardufoss, Norway
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Maj
Gen Roar Haugen 
