Space power in the High North : perspectives from the kingdom of Norway

• Main Author: Sundlisaeter, Tale
• Other Authors: O'Brien, Phillips Payson, Strachan, Hew, Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS), Norwegian Defence Command and Staff College (NDCSC), Royal Norwegian Air War College, Norway. Forsvarets forskningsinstitutt, Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: The University of St Andrews 2022
• Subjects: Space; Space power; Spacepower; Norway; Small states; Policy; Defence policy; Security policy; Defence and security policy; Military space; Military; Military space power; Domestic politics; National security; Space policy; Strategy; Space strategy; Doctrine; Space doctrine; Space capability; Space club; Russia; High North; Arctic; High north policy; Arctic policy; Military affairs; Military strategy; Military doctrine; NATO; Bilateral relations; Intelligence; Military intelligence; ISR; surveillance and reconnaissance; Satcom; Satellite communications; Military space strategic review; Norwegian space policy; Norwegian space strategy; Norwegian military space policy; Norwegian military space strategy; Norwegian military space doctrine; Revolution in Military Affairs; RMA; Network Centric Warfare; Security studies; Space security; Military bureaucracy; Kola Bay
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/26378; https://doi.org/10.17630/sta/220

Norway’s main impetus for developing national military satellite-based capability was the 1977 introduction of the EEZ, through which Norway became responsible for vast maritime areas in the High North. These capabilities also underpinned Norway’s intelligence mission that entailed monitoring Russian military activity, especially the Kola Bay-based Russian strategic forces in the vicinity of Norway. Norway developed niche technologies for military use predominantly based on civilian satellites, and ESA became an essential instrument as it enabled Norway to develop indigenous satellite-based services for the Norwegian Armed Forces. Norway in turn used this capability to reinforce its military relations with the United States and key allies within the NATO framework. Following the pivotal military space strategic review in 2014/2015, the Norwegian Armed Forces developed a function-oriented management structure and incorporated space as a new military domain. National security implications of space were finally incorporated into Norwegian space policy, and Norway has since developed a wide range of national space capabilities, all of which support the nation’s defence and security objectives. This thesis examines how Norwegian military space activity fits into the nation’s overall defence and security policy and argues this activity and the associated national capability development has emerged as a strategic asset in Norwegian alliance policy. This activity reflects upon relations between national policymakers and practitioners, and has contributed to obscure the notion of civil-military separation in Norway. The activity also demonstrates the existence of two unofficial space doctrines in Norway. One focuses on intelligence and the other on force enhancement. The 2020 appointment of the Norwegian Intelligence Service as Norway’s military space authority demonstrates the value of space for intelligence activities supersedes other uses of the domain. Lastly, the study has identified a notable discrepancy between ...