Possible Future Military Role for Bodø's New Airport
"Norway will need allied help in crisis and war. The allied and regional cooperation in NATO strengthens our defense capabilities. Bodø should still be able to receive this help on the day we might need it," says the Norwegian Minister of Defense Bjørn Arild Gram (Center). (Photo: Marie Staberg).
The Norwegian Ministry of Defense has decided to acquire options in Avinor's construction project so that the new airport in Bodø, Northern Norway, could potentially have a future military role.
The Norwegian Ministry of Defense has decided to acquire options in Avinor's construction project so that the new airport in Bodø, Northern Norway, could have a future military role. This was revealed in a press release on Tuesday.
The infrastructure that the options cover includes access to shelters and reinforcement of parking areas for heavy transport and tanker aircraft.
Avinor
Avinor is a wholly-owned state limited company under the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications and is responsible for 43 state-owned airports.
The Minister of Defense, Bjørn Arild Gram (Center), emphasizes the serious security policy backdrop for the decision.
"Norway's security policy environment has changed permanently. The decision ensures that these facilities can contribute to national and allied preparedness in the new security policy situation," says Gram.
"Norway will need allied help in crisis and war. Allied and regional cooperation in NATO strengthens our defense capabilities. Bodø should still be able to receive this help when we might need it," he adds.
As a result of the security situation, the Ministry of Defense has decided to enable future military activity around Bodø's new airport. Minister of Defense Bjørn Arild Gram was part of the latest test flight with the F-16 at Bodø Airport earlier this year. (Photo: Martin Mellquist / the Norwegian Armed Forces)
Future military role
The Norwegian Air Force's base in Bodø was decommissioned in 2022, and its operations were moved to Ørlandet and Evenes.
The decision was made in 2012, and the construction of a new airport was initiated under the major city project "New City—New Airport." The new airport will be located approximately 1 kilometer southwest of the current airport, where a completely new city district will be built.
The Ministry of Defense writes that the measure, that was announced Tuesday, is part of implementing the new long-term plan for the defense sector, which, among other things, highlights the need for increased facilitation for receiving allied forces.
The new long-term plan calls for further development of the airports at Andøya, Værnes, Sola, and Bodø for allied exercises in peacetime and for receiving allied air forces in crisis and war. In Bodø, the development will be adapted to the plans for the project "New City—New Airport."
This underlines Bodø's strategic position for the defense of Norway.
Important step
"This is an important decision for NATO, close allies, and the Norwegian Armed Forces, and it will strengthen the security in the North. This underlines Bodø's strategic position for the defense of Norway," says Bodø Mayor Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen (Conservatives) in a press release from Bodø municipality.
The municipality writes that the decision is an important step for the Armed Forces to have an even larger footprint and more activity in Bodø as an urban defense city.
"Bodø municipality has always been concerned with being a good host municipality for the Armed Forces and allies. We will work together with the Armed Forces and Avinor to create a good civil-military airport for the Armed Forces, NATO, and close allies," adds Ingebrigtsen.
Going forward, Bodø municipality will continue the dialogue with the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency and Avinor to chart the way forward for the airport's future military role.
"I am very pleased that the minister and the stakeholders have been so committed to safeguarding the new city project. It will also be crucial in the next phase," says Mayor Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen of Bodø municipality. (Photo: Hans Kristian Thorbjørnsen).
Possible location for NATO center
Bodø is also a potential location for a possible NATO air operations center for the Nordics or the Arctic.
According to MoD Gram, if a center is established and located on Norwegian soil, the government will consider a specific location.
