First RNoAF aircraft in Bardufoss Mountain Air Station for 40 years
The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) continues to strengthen its combat aircraft survivability concepts with the re-opening of Bardufoss Air Station, a facility inside a mountain previously deactivated for 40…
June 20, 2024
The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) continues to strengthen its combat aircraft survivability concepts with the re-opening of Bardufoss Air Station, a facility inside a mountain previously deactivated for 40 years.
The recent deployment of the Lockheed Martin F-35 to Bardufoss Air Station marked the reactivation of hangars and facilities out of service for four decades. “The deteriorating security policy station and the war in Ukraine mean that the Air Force must become sharper. Powerful stealth fighters are not enough,” explained Brigadier Tron Strand, head of the Joint Air Operations Centre (JAOC). “First and foremost, this is about being prepared and in the long term this may involved more national and Allied activity here”.
He also confirmed that the Royal Norwegian Air Force is using the “entire air station at Bardufoss,” which despite the excellent protection offered by its naturally-occurring features, has received structural and equipment upgrades to increase its use for air operations.
Bardufoss Air Station is Norway’s oldest operating air station and us also used as a civilian airport. In its military role, it falls under the Norwegian Air Force’s 131 Air Wing, with Colonel Eirik Stueland describing it as “well suited to take a prominent role in the operational distribution concept”.
