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Royal Norwegian Air Force

Encyclopedia : R : RO : ROY : Royal Norwegian Air Force

Military of Norway>Norwegian Defence


Components 



 


 Air Force 
 Luftforsvaret


 


 Army 
 Hæren


 


 Navy 
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 Kystvakten


 


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 Heimevernet




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 Norwegian military ranks







The Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret or Royal Norwegian Air Force (KNL or RNoAF) is the air force of Norway. It was established as separate arm of the Norwegian armed forces on November 10, 1944. The RNoAF has a peacetime strength of about 1,850; after mobilisation, the total number of personnel would be around 5,500 personnel.


The infrastructure of the RNoAF includes seven airbases (at Andøya, Bardufoss, Bodø, Gardermoen, Rygge, Sola and Ørland), two control and reporting centres (at Sørreisa and Mågerø) and two training centres (at Kjevik, Kristiansand and Kuhaugen, Trondheim).


The RNoAF is organized in six Air Wings. These are divided into a total of nine squadrons of planes as well as two anti aircraft units. The operational force consists of 57 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft, six NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System) batteries, 12 Sea King rescue helicopters, 6 P-3 Orion maritime surveillance aircraft, 6 Hercules transport aircraft, 6 Lynx helicopters, 18 Bell 412SP helicopters, 2 Dassault Falcon 20 EW, 1 Dassault Falcon 20 VIP plane and 15 Saab Safari training planes.


The RNoAF will conduct several investments in the coming years. First the European helicopter NH-90 will be added to the fleet. During a five year period the Government will also decide the future of the transport aircraft fleet, and decide which new fighter aircraft to buy in 2010. Concerning the fighter aircraft the main competition is between the European Eurofighter and the American F-35 Lightning II with SAAB JAS-39 Gripen and Dassault Rafale still not being ruled out.





Contents





History

Military flights started in 1912. The first plane, Start, was bought with money donated by the public and piloted by an officer from the submarine HNoMS Kobben (A-1). Up until 1940 most of the aircraft belonging to the Navy and Army air forces were domestic designs or built under license agreements. In the late 30s more modern aircraft was bought from abroad, including 12 Gloster Gladiator fighters from the UK, and 6 Heinkel He 115. Considerable orders for aircraft were placed with U.S. companies during the months prior to the invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940.





Roundel first used in 1945.

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Roundel first used in 1945.






When war broke out, only a few aircraft had been delivered. The unequal situation led to the rapid defeat of the Norwegian air forces, even though seven Gladiators from Jagervingen (the fighter wing) defended Fornebu against the attacking German forces with some success - claiming two Me 110 heavy fighters, two He 111 bombers and a Junkers Ju 52 transport. Jagervingen lost two Gladiators to ground strafing while they were rearming on Fornebu and one in the air, shot down by Future Experte Helmut Lent, injuring the sergeant pilot. After the withdrawal of allied forces, the Norwegian Government gave up fighting in Norway and fled to Great Britain on June 10, 1940.


Only aircraft of the Norwegian Naval Airforce had the range to fly all the way from their last remaining bases in Northern Norway to the UK. Included amongst the Norwegian aircraft that reached the British Isles were a number of German made Heinkel He 115 seaplane bombers, some bought before the war and two captured from the Germans during the Norwegian campaign. A captured Arado Ar 196 originating from the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper was also flown to Britain for testing.


The Army and Navy air forces established themselves in Britain under the command of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Norwegian air and ground crews operated as part of the British Royal Air Force, in both wholly Norwegian squadrons and also in other squadrons and units such as Ferry Command and Bomber Command. In particular, Norwegian personnel operated two squadrons of Supermarine Spitfires: RAF 132 (Norwegian) Wing concisted of No. 331 (Norwegian) Squadron and RAF No. 332 (Norwegian) Squadron. Both planes and running costs were financed by the exiled Norwegian government.


In the autumn of 1940, a Norwegian training center known as "Little Norway" was established in RCAF Station Borden outside of Toronto, Canada. 


The Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) was established by a royal decree on November 1, 1944, thereby merging the Army and Navy air forces. 331 (Norwegian) Squadron defended London from 1941 and was the highest scoring fighter squadron in South England during the war.


Up until May 8, 1945, 335 persons had lost their lives while taking part in the efforts of the RNoAF.


After the war the Spitfire remained in service with them into the fifties. 


In 1947, the Surveillance and Control Division acquired its first radar system, and around the same time the RNoAF got its first jet fighters in the form of De Havilland Vampires.


In 1949 Norway joined NATO, and quite soon received American aircraft through the MAP (Military Aid Program).


In 1959, the Anti-Aircraft Artillery was integrated into the Royal Norwegian Air Force.





F-16A #672 carrying 4 AIM-120 AMRAAMs and 2 AIM-9 Sidewinders. The Norwegian F-16s were the first to be equipped with braking parachutes (located in the rectangular extension at the base of the tail fin).

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F-16A #672 carrying 4 AIM-120 AMRAAMs and 2 AIM-9 Sidewinders. The Norwegian F-16s were the first to be equipped with braking parachutes (located in the rectangular extension at the base of the tail fin).








Organisation

Bodø Main Air Station
Ørland Main Air Station
Andøya Air Station
Bardufoss Air Station



Norwegian Bell 412 SP

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Norwegian Bell 412 SP






Gardermoen Air Station

Rygge Air Station
Sola Air Station


Planes used by the Air Force and its predecessors




Gloster Gladiator in Norwegian colours photographed in England in 2002

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Gloster Gladiator in Norwegian colours photographed in England in 2002









See also



External links







Lists of Aircraft | Aircraft manufacturers | Aircraft engines | Aircraft engine manufacturers



| Airlines | Air forces | Aircraft weapons | Missiles | Timeline of aviation














 





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