The key facts
- Just over 30 soldiers will be sent to Kirkenes, and sensors for the NASAMS air defense system will be stationed there
- An artillery battalion with four K9 self-propelled howitzers was previously formed in the Finnmark brigade
- According to Russian Ambassador Nikolai Korchunov, 24 more systems are planned by the end of 2028
Additional forces and air defense assets in Finnmark
Norway intends to increase its military presence in Finnmark, the county bordering Russia. As reported by the Kingdom's Ministry of Defense, additional forces will be sent to the city of Kirkenes, and the Air Force will station sensors there for the NASAMS air defense missile system.
An artillery battalion at the border
This is not the first strengthening of the Norwegian presence in the region: earlier, an artillery battalion was formed within the Finnmark brigade, which received four South Korean K9 self-propelled howitzers. According to Russian Ambassador to Oslo Nikolai Korchunov, the unit is planned to be reinforced with 24 more systems by the end of 2028. Thus, the reinforcement now announced — the addition of personnel and air target detection assets — complements the artillery component already deployed in the border county.
