Norwegian Navy – small, but good
The Norwegian Navy Inspector General, Haakon Bruun-Hansen, believes that the world will be reffering to the Norwegian Navy as “small, but good”.
2008 has been a very good year for the Norwegian Navy, Read Admiral Bruun-Hansen said in an interview on the Norwegian Armed Forces’ official web pages.
- In its long-term proposition for the Armed Forces, the Norwegian Parliament emphasizes that Norway is a maritime nation, and that our off-shore values are of the uttermost importance for the nation.
- Norway is a small country. By international standards we have a relatively small Navy. We have to assert oneself through quality. We have to be sufficiently deterrent towards potential enemies, and at the same time attractive to our allies.
The Navy budget for 2009 amounts to 3 billion NOK – a 240 million NOK rise from the previous year.
- This rise proves that the time of downsizing is over, and that politicians are willing to prioritize Norwegian maritime areas, Bruun-Hansen says. The rise comes at the same time as the Norwegian Government is putting focus on the High North.
The Norwegian Navy expects to receive its first three Skjold class missile torpedo boats (MTB) in 2009. Three new Coast Guard vessels of the The Barentshav class will also be delivered this year. Two of the navy’s new Fridtjof Nansen class frigates are expected to be operational in 2009.
Read more about the vessels: