HELSINKI \u2014 Norway needs to boost manpower and increase funding for advanced defense systems and equipment to pose a credible deterrent to Russia’s growing military presence in the High North, according to the Norwegian Armed Forces’ (NAF) 2014 Annual Report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Entitled, “The World in Change,” the report reinforces the need to create deliver <\/span>a more robust defense based on long-term sustainable targets and backed by higher levels of<\/span> spending on equipment and personnel, and core military units that provide increased scaled-up <\/span>mobility, flexibility and firepower. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Russia’s aggression in Ukraine underlines the need and urgency to invest more heavily in defense-building measures, particularly in the High North, said Norway’s defense chief, Adm. Haakon Bruun-Hanssen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Russia poses is regarded as posing <\/span>no “immediate threat” to Norway, the Kremlin’s “considerable military expansion” in the High North will be Norway’s the single <\/span>biggest military challenge going forward, for Norwegian defense going forward, said <\/span>Bruun-Hanssen said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “Our budgets are tight in relation to our current activity levels, and more is being demanded from the armed forces. There are higher expectations from our politicians, the public, and not least from our NATO allies. We face an immediate imbalance between the level of our ambitions and the economic resources that we have at hand,” Bruun-Hanssen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Estimates of how much more the NAF will require to cover future equipment and operating needs vary from an extra US $200 million to $400 million annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A higher level of funding is not only required , the Annual Report observes, <\/span>to finance core operating units, the Annual Report observes, but also to support an increasing need to contribute to NATO or UN-led international operations, as well as the elevated demands for more <\/span>domestic multibranch and multinational joint exercises with NATO and Nordic nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We can [adequately supply] fulfill adequate supplies in <\/span>the operations we conduct in Norway and abroad, but I am not satisfied with our reaction capability when it comes to meeting the biggest challenges that we may face. This applies to both responsiveness, availability and the robustness of our troops,” Bruun-Hanssen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The NAF’s spending power has been negatively affected by the weakening of the kronaer<\/span> against major currencies since the defense budget for 2015 was set down in October at NOK <\/span>43.8218<\/span> billion kronor, carrying a US $6 billion currency exchange value at that time. , in October 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Following currency gains against the kronaer<\/span> since January, 2015, <\/span>the 2015 budget’s US dollar value has fallen to around $5.4 billion, a development that <\/span>eroding the purchasing power of a 3.4 percent increase in the 2015 budget. , which was spending value contained in the 3.4 per cent increase in the 2015 budget <\/span>agreed in October 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is particularly noticeable the case <\/span>for international procurements denominated in foreign currencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The NAF is discussing currently in dialogue <\/span>with the Ministry of Defense (MoD) <\/span>to identify<\/span> those various <\/span>areas within the country’s <\/span>military organization <\/span>that need reorganization and increased strengthened <\/span>funding. levels.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n In October, the MoD , in October 2014, <\/span>directed the NAF to provide a Military Advisory Report (MAR) <\/span>to the government that would will <\/span>set out defense challenges, capability targets and funding objectives. The report is due NAF is due to present its MAR <\/span>by Oct.ober<\/span> 1., 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n In her February address to the Oslo Military Society, Norwegian ay’s <\/span>Defense Minister Ine Eriksen S\u00f8reide conceded the degree of <\/span>difficulty facing the government in bolstering defense spending. in her February address to the Oslo Military Society.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to S\u00f8reide, the uphill battle to reach NATO’s target of 2 percent of to <\/span>GDP target <\/span>is undermined by a tougher economic climate and the Norwegian Exchequer’s need to curb spending across all departments. Norway currently <\/span>spends between 1.2 and 1.3 per cent of its GDP on defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The goal of halting the decline in defense budgets and working toward a minimum defense spending level of 2 percent of GDP within 10 years is a very demanding one for most of our allies. We, too, have a way to go before reaching the 2 percent level. But we stand by the target,” S\u00f8reide said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 2014 Annual Report prioritized future capabilities and the NAF’s ability to not only alone be able to <\/span>afford to acquire <\/span>advanced military equipment but have the organization and manpower levels in place <\/span>to fulfill all elements of its Total Defense mission. and ambitions.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The MoD-directed efficiency drive, which started in 2002 and is due to run to the end of 2016, is expected to produce $8.4 billion in savings over the 14-year period. To date, savings have been channeled from lower- to higher-priority areas, and have been used to partly finance various <\/span>force modernization programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “We must make certain that the operational units are adequately staffed. The chief of defense and I have a constructive dialogue on this. And we must continue renewing and investing in new equipment and plan for major purchases of material, not only in the near future but 15 to 20 years ahead,” said S\u00f8reide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Savings from the cost-efficiency crusade since 2008 have been used to support key acquisitions, including the Army’s $1.22 billion purchase of new CV90 armored combat vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking forward to big ticket item purchases, the government has reached a decision in principal to acquire new submarines to replace the Navy’s Ola-class fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We can no longer fund that kind of procurement by reducing volume or through efficiencies. If we want submarines, we must make room for them in the budget, and we know that could mean lowering other priorities,” S\u00f8reide said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The MoD has hired -in <\/span>consultants McKinsey & Co. to evaluate the potential to generate greater cost-efficiencies in certain functions <\/span>across the military organization. The spotlight will mainly fall on staffing, support and administration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “We’re not going to touch operational activity and capability. On the contrary, we’re doing this to strengthen operational capability,” said S\u00f8reide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n