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Nordic Countries to Share Warplanes
(Source: Copenhagen Post; published Nov. 8, 2012)
The five Nordic countries have agreed to pool some of their military assets, including tactical airlifters like this Norwegian C-130J, to reduce costs and improve effectiveness.
Following an agreement between Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland, which was signed by the defence minister, Nick Hækkerup (Socialdemokraterne),
the five countries will in the future operate a joint fleet of military transport planes. However, there are no concrete plans at present to do the same with fighter jets.
Norway and Denmark both have four C-130 Hercules transport planes while Sweden has eight. Finland will contribute its three smaller transport planes, the EADS CASA C-295, to the joint fleet.
Iceland does not own any military transport planes, but has promised to contribute funds to purchasing more jointly-owned aircraft.
“The best solution would be to pool our resources so that we can access each other’s planes,” Hækkerup told Jyllands-Posten.
“Some planes are always unavailable, either due to servicing or repairs. This is an opportunity for a Nordic co-operation for the operative use of planes, maintenance, education and training exercises.”
The Nordic countries also agreed to the possibility of sharing the costs of field rations, batteries, ammunition for hand weapons, as well as sharing the responsibilities for radar surveillance and tug boats.
Across Europe there is a move towards cutting military spending, and pooling resources is considered an efficient way of reducing costs while minimising operational capabilities.
For example, Denmark and Sweden independently carry out radar surveillance of the Baltic Sea. However, Denmark’s facility on the island of Bornholm will need replacing in the coming years, so it makes sense to just share Sweden’s newer radar facility, which covers the same area.
Lars Bangert Struwe, from the Centre for Military Studies at the University of Copenhagen, claims that while the increased co-operation could bring savings, it could also result in conflict.
“It’s simple when you’re just dealing with things like ammunition, where you can get discounts for buying in bulk, but it quickly gets more complicated when you’re looking at sharing a radar facility in Sweden,” Struwe told Jyllands-Posten.
“What would happen if we fell out with Sweden? Or if a conflict arises that NATO is involved in, but Sweden has decided to stay out of it, and we rely upon them for surveillance?”
Struwe added that countries risk losing their sovereignty as they increase their co-operation. But according to General Major Flemming Lefner from the Danish military command, Forsvarskommandoen, who is also the chair of the Nordic committee on military co-operation, Nordefco, it is a necessary risk.
“Giving up sovereignty is the price you pay for ‘smart defence’,” Lefner told Jyllands-Posten. “It is clear that there will be some challenges due to our sovereign borders. But by pooling our capacities in surveillance, for example, it ensures that we have the necessary capacities when we need them.”
In September, Denmark signed another deal with the United Kingdom in which it agreed to increase co-operation regarding training exercises, education, logistics, transport, international operations and intelligence gathering.
The military is currently attempting to find ways to cut 2.7 billion kroner from its annual budget. (ends)
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Nordic Defence Ministers' Meeting in Skagen
(Source: Nordic Defence Cooperation; issued Nov. 7, 2012)
On 5th and 6th November a Nordic defence ministers' meeting took place in Skagen, chaired by the Danish minister of defence Mr. Nick Hækkerup
The meeting was the second Nordic defence ministers' meetings during the Danish 2012 NORDEFCO presidency. At the centre of discussions was the topic of enhanced Nordic cooperation on tactical air transport.
The ministers signed a letter of Intent, as a tangible expression of the excellent potential for deeper cooperation in this regard.
The potential areas of cooperation in this regard include pooling of air transport capacities, command and control, joint training and common sustainment solutions.
This cooperation initiative exemplifies the 'Smart Defence' nature of the Nordic defence cooperation. Possibilities for enhanced Nordic support to capacity building in East Africa were also discussed during the meeting.
The ministers also discussed the further development of Nordic cooperation including a number of other areas of potential cooperation in the short as well as longer term. In the short term airspace surveillance, procurement of small arms ammunition, tugboats, armored vehicles rubber tracks, batteries and unit group rations provide good opportunities for positive results.
The Ministers also discussed the situation in Afghanistan and the Nordic countries' future engagement. Nordic support for Afghanistan was confirmed, and enhanced Nordic cooperation possibilities after 2014 will be considered.
During the meeting, the Ministers welcomed the willingness of Finland and Sweden to participate in air surveillance in Iceland.
A final decision, including a due parliamentary process, can be taken in Finland and Sweden only after the matter has been discussed in NATO.
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