Nordic nations move to link air forces into 250-strong aircraft fleet

HELSINKI — Several Nordic countries have moved to deepen cooperation among their respective air forces to bolster the region’s defenses. The initiative, covered by a joint declaration of intent, or JDI, takes place against the backdrop of persisting security tensions, provoked by Russia’s war against Ukraine, that are impacting the High North and Baltic Sea neighborhoods.

The first of its kind between the Nordic states, the declaration was signed March 16 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany by the commanders of the Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Danish air forces.

The concept of a joint Nordic air force, comprising about 250 modern front-line combat aircraft, has been the subject of periodic discussions between the regional governments since the mid-1990s.

Sweden’s and Finland’s unaligned status remained an impediment to advancing talks and joint initiatives. But with the two countries primed to join NATO , Nordic governments find themselves on more solid ground to discuss a common action plan to create a so-called mini-NATO that would deliver a formidable and unified air force capability.

The primary aim of the joint declaration is to strengthen air force cooperation between the four Nordic states, precipitating concrete joint initiatives to develop a strong regional air defense. The idea is to elevate collaboration between Nordic air forces so they can operate together in all situations.

The air defense operations concept, embedded in the declaration, envisions joint Nordic air force cooperation developed along four principal lines of action. It also proposes the development of an integrated management structure for planning and executing air operations.

Moreover, the concept anticipates the development of a flexible and sustainable support system, joint air situational awareness, and joint training and exercise activities between the four Nordic air forces.

Maj. Gen. Rolf Folland, the chief of the Royal Norwegian Air Force, views the idea as a basis for creating a joint Nordic center for air operations that could also house the United States and Canada under a single command structure.

“There is obvious interest in a regional initiative for a joint air command on NATO’s northern flank. We know the conditions in the High North well, and we have a lot to learn from each other. With a total of almost 250 modern combat aircraft, this will be a large combat force that must be coordinated,” Folland said.

The last operational NATO headquarters in Norway — the Combined Air Operation Center-3 at Reitan, located east of Bodø — closed in 2008, with responsibility transferred to the alliance’s CAOC Finderup in Denmark.

Gerard O'Dwyer is the Scandinavian affairs correspondent for Defense News.

赫尔辛基——为加强地区防御，多个北欧国家已采取行动，深化各自空军之间的合作。这项倡议以联合意向声明（JDI）的形式呈现，其背景是俄罗斯对乌克兰的战争引发的持续安全紧张局势，这场紧张局势正影响着北高地和波罗的海周边地区。

这是北欧国家之间的第一份此类宣言，于 3 月 16 日在德国拉姆施泰因空军基地由瑞典、挪威、芬兰和丹麦空军指挥官签署。

自 20 世纪 90 年代中期以来，组建一支由约 250 架现代化一线作战飞机组成的北欧联合空军的概念一直是北欧各国政府定期讨论的主题。

瑞典和芬兰的不结盟地位一直是推进会谈和联合倡议的障碍。但随着两国准备加入北约，北欧各国政府在讨论共同行动计划方面有了更坚实的基础，该计划旨在创建一个所谓的“迷你北约”，从而打造一支强大而统一的空军力量。

联合声明的主要目标是加强北欧四国空军之间的合作，促成具体的联合行动，以构建强大的区域防空体系。其理念是提升北欧空军之间的协作水平，使其能够在各种情况下协同作战。

该宣言中包含的防空作战概念设想了北欧联合空军围绕四个主要行动方向开展合作。它还提议建立一个用于规划和执行空中作战的综合管理架构。

此外，该概念还预期建立灵活可持续的支持系统、联合空中态势感知以及北欧四国空军之间的联合训练和演习活动。

挪威皇家空军司令罗尔夫·福兰德少将认为，这一想法可以作为建立北欧联合空中作战中心的基础，该中心还可以将美国和加拿大纳入一个统一的指挥结构之下。

“各方对在北约北翼建立联合空军司令部的区域性倡议表现出浓厚的兴趣。我们非常了解高北地区的情况，彼此之间有很多可以学习的地方。这支拥有近250架现代化作战飞机的庞大作战力量必须进行协调，”福兰德说道。

北约在挪威的最后一个作战总部——位于博德以东雷坦的第三联合空中作战中心——于 2008 年关闭，其职责移交给了位于丹麦的北约芬德鲁普联合空中作战中心。

杰拉德·奥德怀尔是《防务新闻》的斯堪的纳维亚事务记者。