Page 21 - Norwegian Special Report

Reshaping Norwegian Defense

THE CHALLENGE OF SHAPING A 21ST CENTURY INTEGRATED FORCE FOR
THE EXTENDED DEFENSE OF NORWAY: THE PERSPECTIVE OF LT. GENERAL
RUNE JAKOBSEN

In the Fall of 2015, then Major General Rune Jakobsen became Lt. General Jakobsen and the Commander of
the Norwegian Joint Headquarters. According to the announcement at the time:
The new commander started his military career in July 1980 and has filled several key positions in the Norwegian
Armed Forces.

He has been commanding officer for the Telemark Battalion, Chief of the Army Staff, National Contingent
Commander in Afghanistan and Chief of Staff in the Norwegian Defence Staff.

The Norwegian Joint Headquarters is nothing new for Jakobsen. From 2010 to 2013, he served as Chief of
Operations at the Headquarters.

https://forsvaret.no/en/newsroom/news-stories/new-commander-at-the-headquarters

According to an article published on the Norwegian Ministry of Defence website, the Norwegian Joint
Headquarters is the operational heart of the Norwegian Armed Forces.

It plans, conducts and leads the Armed Forces’ operations in times of peace, crisis and war.
The Norwegian Joint Headquarters (NJHQ) operates day and night, and has the overall command and control of
all military activity in Norway. It also commands the Norwegian military personnel abroad. In Norway, it controls
activities like the Coast Guard, the search and rescue service, military air traffic, and the Border Guard.

The Headquarters operates from its mountain complex outside the city of Bodø in Northern Norway. From its
operation centre, experienced officers continuously monitor the activity in Norway’s vast land and sea territories.

This is possible thanks to our many sensors like radars, the Coast Guard and the maritime surveillance aircraft P-3
Orion. The Headquarters gathers all the information and makes a complete picture of the current situation. This
picture is shared with other departments in the Armed Forces, and with NATO.

The NJHQ Chief is the Chief of Defence’s most important advisor in questions concerning military operations and
activity. The current Chief is Lieutenant General Rune Jakobsen.

NJHQ M AIN TASKS:

• Keep an eye with Norway’s vast sea and air territories, and have a current understanding of the overall
situation.
• Exercise sovereignty in Norway’s land, sea and air territories – and exercise national jurisdiction in these
areas.
• Be present, and be able to handle crisis of any kind.
• Support civil society.
• Plan and head military exercises.
• Provide control and support to Norwegian forces in international operations.

https://forsvaret.no/en/organisation/joint-headquarters

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