NATO Air Operations Centre to be Located in Norway: MoD Visits Northern Candidate
From the MoD's visit to Bodø in connection with the location issue for a new NATO Combined Air Operations Centre. From the left: Member of Parliament Øystein Mathisen (Labor) for Nordland, Minister of Defense Tore O. Sandvik (Labor), Bodø Mayor Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen (Conservative), Chair of the Nordland County Government Svein Øien Eggesvik (Center) and Sørreisa Mayor Jan-Eirik Nordahl (Labor). (Photo: Hilde Bye).
Bodø (High North News): The Norwegian MoD, Tore O. Sandvik, says both Norwegian cities Bodø and Rygge have what it takes to make NATO's third Combined Air Operations Centre work. During a visit to the North, he specified that major investments would be made whether Bodø or Rygge received the allocation.
"Bodø is a defense municipality. The expertise is high here, and what is already delivered from here is an important part of our joint security in NATO," says Norwegian Minister of Defense Tore O. Sandvik (Labor) to High North News.
We met him at Bodø Air Station, which he visited this week in connection with the question of where NATO's newest Combined Air Operations Centre is to be located. The regional air headquarter will be responsible for leading air operations in the Nordic region and the High North.
The minister met a delegation of northern politicians with the mayors of Bodø and Sørreisa at the forefront. Sandvik also visited relevant mountain facilities, as well as the Norwegian Joint Headquarters.
As reported, NATO has awarded Norway the hosting of the alliance's third Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC). The two candidates are now the North Norwegian city of Bodø as well as Rygge, located in southeast Norway, approximately one hour outside Oslo.
Has what it takes
The Norwegian debate surrounding its location has taken place over time and includes NATO requirements and elements such as staff, security, housing, flight connections and travel routes, whether there are international schools nearby and similar offers for families.
Norway's MoD now highlights that both candidates meet the set requirements.
"The most important aspect is to make the center work and I believe both places will be capable of that. There will also be a comprehensive assessment regarding how quickly it can be built up and how well it can work," he elaborates.
Minister of Defense Tore O. Sandvik (Labor), together with the Chief of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, Vice Admiral Rune Andersen. (Photo: Håkon Venge).
Sandvik is also clear that major investments are needed to build the air operations center – no matter which of the alternatives is chosen.
"Whether Bodø or Rygge is chosen, major investments must be made to build this up. NATO will also foot a big part of the bill," he continues.
Bodø Mayor Odd-Emil Ingebrigtsen (Conservatives) says to HNN that he is pleased to hear the minister say that both locations meet relevant demands.
Can be utilized quickly
"New things are constantly emerging in this debate. It is therefore very clarifying when the minister says today that both places meet the requirements set by NATO. Bodø has had NATO missions before, and there has been no problem recruiting for these," specifies Ingebrigtsen.
He simultaneously underlines the importance of the visit and that those who will make the decision has visited and seen the capacities in the areas with their own eyes.
"Throughout this past year, we have had several inspections in the air station area. There are a lot of facilities and infrastructure that can be utilized quickly," continues Ingebrigtsen.
The Bodø mayor also refers to the area as a sort of "mini Reitan", referring to the mountain facility Reitan outside of Bodø which houses both the Norwegian Joint Headquarters and the Norwegian Joint Air Operations Center (JAOC), which now has a Nordic Division.
"We are also concerned with elevating the security policy dimension; namely, that physical presence, both by the Norwegian defense, but also by NATO in the North, is an important signal, marks strength, and in my opinion contributes to increasing our security."
"This is ultimately a political matter, and we hope the government will decide wisely. We think it is natural that such a center should be located in the North," says the Mayor of Bodø Municipality, Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen (Conservative). (Photo: Hilde Bye).
Will be important for security in the North
When asked how the Minister of Defense assesses the security policy aspect, he replies that the Armed Forces are closely present in the High North and highlights, among other things, the build-up of the Finnmark Brigade, as well as major investments in upcoming frigate purchases, maritime patrol aircraft of the P8 type, and the presence of the F-35.
Furthermore, Sandvik says that the security policy aspect is not a decisive factor in itself. Decisive factors are that the center is actually built up, preferably as quickly as possible, that people can staff it, and that the center is functional.
"This is the most important thing – also for the High North and security in the North. The most important thing is to have an air operations center that works, and we believe that both Bodø and Rygge are good places to fulfill this function. Ultimately, this will be an overall assessment of various factors determining where it is placed."
More about the CAOC
The air headquarters will be primarily responsible for managing air operations in the Nordic countries and the High North.
"The center will also have a broader overview of the whole picture. In given situations, it should also be able to operate throughout Europe. If, for example, there is an outcome elsewhere, there should be redundancy for this," says MoD Sandvik.
Implications for Sørreisa
In addition to the Bodø mayor, the mayor of Sørreisa municipality in Troms county further north is also in place to give his input to the minister.
The Norwegian Joint Air Operations Center, located on Reitan outside Bodø, already has a branch, the Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) in Sørreisa. It monitors Norway's airspace 24/7.
Thus, the upcoming location choice will also have implications for the municipality.
"We have emphasized that Sørreisa is Norway's most modern mountain facility in NATO, as well as our unique expertise in control and reporting in Norway," Mayor Jan-Eirik Nordahl (Labor) tells HNN.
"We are very clear that Bodø is the best alternative for establishing the combined air operations center in Norway, and we aim to support this from Sørreisa with our activity within the operational area," he adds.
Naturally, the distribution issue has not been specified. But Nordahl hopes that the government will clarify what activity will take place in Sørreisa.
Mayor of Sørreisa municipality, Jan-Eirik Nordahl (Labor). Sørreisa, in Troms county, has about 3,500 inhabitants and borders Senja to the north and Målselv and Bardu to the east. (Photo: Hilde Bye)
Operational as quickly as possible
To the press at Bodø air station, MoD Sandvik elaborates that the government aims to make the critical location decision before the NATO summit in June.
"For me, it is important to visit the relevant locations and those involved in order to gain the best possible knowledge; firstly, to see things for myself, but also to hear from the military and local politicians about why they are interested in having the center located here."
"Then the decision will be made. We will receive input from the Chief of Defense and the Ministry's assessment. There will be a dialogue with NATO and then a comprehensive decision in the government," Sandvik says about the path forward.
He also emphasizes that the security situation in Europe means the process should go quickly.
"It is busy. We no longer have as much time as we used to have for such processes. It is important to get this center operational as quickly as possible. It is important to show that we can quickly put in place the capacities and structures that we depend on for our joint security," he concludes.
The center is scheduled to be fully operational in 2027, Lieutenant General Rolf Folland told Aftenposten. Folland is Norway's permanent representative on NATO's Military Committee.
The location debate: Bodø and Rygge
– Bodø has been highlighted for its military infrastructure, including mountain facilities that can house the center. It also has the established professional environments for air control at Reitan outside Bodø, at the Norwegian Joint Air Operations Center (JAOC), where a Nordic Division now has been established. Reitan is also home to the Norwegian Joint Headquarters. In 2023, the Chief of the Air Force was also moved to Bodø with a minor staff element.
– The debate also highlights security policy aspects related to Bodø's northern location, including the importance of new state-funded jobs and associated growth northward. Also relevant is the importance of generally increased military presence, specifically allied presence in the north.
– Rygge also has a military mountain facility to house the CAOC. In the debate, Rygge's central location in Eastern Norway has been highlighted, including its proximity to Oslo, especially in terms of a larger job market for families, train and flight connections, as well as recruitment possibilities.
