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Norway Strengthens the Arctic Finnmark Brigade With Three New Units: "A Great Day"
Porsangmoen (High North News): The Finnmark Brigade has now gained an artillery battalion, an air defence battery and a signals company. “This represents an enormous increase in our capacity. We are now talking about a proper brigade,” says Brigade Commander John Olav Fuglem.
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"Norway does not become safer by writing on paper that we have a Finnmark Brigade. Norway becomes safer by giving the brigade substance. That is why it is important that we have now established an artillery battalion, an air defence battery and a signals company," says Norwegian Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik (Labor) to HNN.
On Thursday, he was present at Porsangmoen camp to mark the formation of the three new units, on the one-year anniversary of the brigade's establishment.
"Since last year, the brigade has grown from 280 to 350 permanent employees. It is taking in more soldiers, receiving equipment and being provided with new buildings. This increases defence capability," Sandvik continues.
The commander of the Finnmark Brigade, Brigadier John Olav Fuglem, is also enthusiastic about the development.
"This is a great day for us. The signals company ensures command and control. The air defence battery provides protection for the military units. And the artillery battalion can provide fire support over distances of more than 40 kilometres, as well as direct fire from aircraft and ships. This represents an enormous increase in our capacity. We are now talking about a proper brigade," says Fuglem.
Further development
In June, the Norwegian Armed Forces published their recommendations for the further development of the Finnmark Brigade in the form of a conceptual appraisal report. This was submitted to the Ministry of Defence before Easter for further consideration.
When can we expect a decision on the brigade’s final structure?
"The conceptual appraisal report will undergo an external quality assurance process, after which we will decide on the final structure. But the most important thing is that we already have good plans for the development of the brigade, and that funding has been allocated for this," Sandvik replies.
Going forward, the three new units will be staffed with more personnel, and new units will be established, Fuglem says.
"Next, we will establish a logistics unit and an engineering unit. We will then establish medical and military police units. In addition, we will build up a new battalion broadly similar to the Porsanger Battalion, to be called the Alta Battalion. While the Porsanger Battalion will be medium to high-staffed on a daily basis with many employees, the Alta Battalion will consist of reservists."
Needs high pace construction
"During 2027, I envisage that we will have begun building up all the new units and will continuously add personnel. So, in the next few years, a lot will happen here," the brigade commander continues.
With the substantial growth ahead, it is crucial that buildings and infrastructure are constructed at a sufficiently high pace going forward, he emphasises.
"We are recruiting personnel very well and deliveries of materiel appear to be on schedule. Building new housing, accommodation blocks and barracks, in addition to storage facilities for equipment, will be absolutely central. The Norwegian Defence Estates Agency will be my most important partner going forward. If they do not succeed with their construction, neither will I, says Fuglem.
"At present, two garages and an accommodation block are being built here and are due to be completed in a year. Construction processes tend to take time, but I am fairly certain that we will have the necessary buildings and infrastructure completed by 2030."
Materiel status
In terms of materiel, the Finnmark Brigade has, among other things, received the first four K9 Vidar artillery systems with support vehicles, and a further 24 are to be delivered during 2028.
The brigade will also receive older Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks from Brigade North, as the latter is being supplied with new Leopard 2A8 tanks.
"In other words, we have started to get artillery. We also have air defence, but will receive another type in due course. In addition, we will receive more CV90 infantry fighting vehicles and, not least, drones. These will include attack drones, defensive drones, communications drones and unmanned logistics vehicles. Keeping pace with innovative developments will be important," says Fuglem.
New defence and preparedness programme
Earlier the same day, the defense minister and the brigade commander took part in an event marking the establishment of a new defence and preparedness programme at Lakselv Upper Secondary School, where the first cohort comprises 14 pupils.
More specifically, this is a higher education preparatory programme in sports studies, focusing on defence and preparedness. Among other things, pupils will receive training in preparedness, societal security and military history, as well as field sports and physical training inspired by military activities.
"This programme will be significant for raising awareness and recruitment, not only to the Armed Forces but also to total defence. It is important that we incorporate societal preparedness and defence into education and on a national basis we really have something to learn from Finnmark when it comes to total defence thinking," says Sandvik, continuing:
"The pilot project in Finnmark, with a preparedness week during which several total defence actors contribute to teaching, is something we are considering introducing throughout the Norwegian school system. The Minister of Education and I are now in dialogue about this, and we also note that the Chief of Defence wants this kind of approach."
