Knut Ola Naastad Strøm
@konstrom.bsky.social
Associate professor of air power at RNoAFA / @forsvaretshogskole.bsky.social
Economic historian. Scandinavian sec, history, economic warfare. WWI blockade geek. Occasional Napoleonic reenactor.
Economic historian. Scandinavian sec, history, economic warfare. WWI blockade geek. Occasional Napoleonic reenactor.
A lovely October weekend in Libertwolkwitz for the 212th anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Leipzig. First time back since 2013, this time as part of a very small composite grenadier coy with Gordons and KGL. Good to be back in the field again.
November 9, 2025 at 4:26 PM
A lovely October weekend in Libertwolkwitz for the 212th anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Leipzig. First time back since 2013, this time as part of a very small composite grenadier coy with Gordons and KGL. Good to be back in the field again.
Alltid gøy å se folk forsøke å gå i klinsj med kongen av Nytt på Nytt.
August 31, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Alltid gøy å se folk forsøke å gå i klinsj med kongen av Nytt på Nytt.
The three year old, too busy looking for sea shells to care about the beauty that is the 1866 SDS Hansteen steaming past.
June 28, 2025 at 12:46 PM
The three year old, too busy looking for sea shells to care about the beauty that is the 1866 SDS Hansteen steaming past.
I'm not saying my regimental forebears were better, but...
May 24, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I'm not saying my regimental forebears were better, but...
Conscripts from the King's Guard band and drill platoon performing in front of the Royal Palace in Oslo as part of Norwegian constitution day celebrations, 17th May 2025.
May 19, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Conscripts from the King's Guard band and drill platoon performing in front of the Royal Palace in Oslo as part of Norwegian constitution day celebrations, 17th May 2025.
E-3As from the NATO AWACS force, Ørland AB, May 2025.
May 19, 2025 at 6:57 PM
E-3As from the NATO AWACS force, Ørland AB, May 2025.
Heading home from work this afternoon, the sun broke through the cloud cover and a NATO E-3A AWACS treated us to a low pass as we left Brekstad. There are worse ways to end the day.
May 13, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Heading home from work this afternoon, the sun broke through the cloud cover and a NATO E-3A AWACS treated us to a low pass as we left Brekstad. There are worse ways to end the day.
Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy cadets commemorating liberation and veterans' day at Kristiansen Fortress.
May 13, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy cadets commemorating liberation and veterans' day at Kristiansen Fortress.
So does Montcalm.
April 24, 2025 at 10:54 AM
So does Montcalm.
Visions of a tragedy: Former RNoAF NH90 ASW helicopters in long term storage at Bardufoss air station, 2025.
April 17, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Visions of a tragedy: Former RNoAF NH90 ASW helicopters in long term storage at Bardufoss air station, 2025.
Swedish govt purposes authorising sale of up to four S 106 GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft to Denmark.
Doesn't necessarily mean that a deal is forthcoming, but a pretty solid indication that the Danes have made a formal RFI and are thinking seriously about airspace C2 and surveillance in the Arctic.
Doesn't necessarily mean that a deal is forthcoming, but a pretty solid indication that the Danes have made a formal RFI and are thinking seriously about airspace C2 and surveillance in the Arctic.
April 15, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Swedish govt purposes authorising sale of up to four S 106 GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft to Denmark.
Doesn't necessarily mean that a deal is forthcoming, but a pretty solid indication that the Danes have made a formal RFI and are thinking seriously about airspace C2 and surveillance in the Arctic.
Doesn't necessarily mean that a deal is forthcoming, but a pretty solid indication that the Danes have made a formal RFI and are thinking seriously about airspace C2 and surveillance in the Arctic.
March 21, 2025 at 11:38 PM
And we're off again!
The tones of John Williams' "Nimbus 2000" setting us up for the final day of this year's air power seminar. Sleek and fast though it might be, I suspect the broom might struggle in the payload department...
The tones of John Williams' "Nimbus 2000" setting us up for the final day of this year's air power seminar. Sleek and fast though it might be, I suspect the broom might struggle in the payload department...
February 12, 2025 at 7:41 AM
And we're off again!
The tones of John Williams' "Nimbus 2000" setting us up for the final day of this year's air power seminar. Sleek and fast though it might be, I suspect the broom might struggle in the payload department...
The tones of John Williams' "Nimbus 2000" setting us up for the final day of this year's air power seminar. Sleek and fast though it might be, I suspect the broom might struggle in the payload department...
And we're off!
Air Force band ensemble playing the opening notes of this year's CRNoAFA Air Power Conference!
The online stream is up too!
vimeo.com/event/484240...
Air Force band ensemble playing the opening notes of this year's CRNoAFA Air Power Conference!
The online stream is up too!
vimeo.com/event/484240...
February 11, 2025 at 8:04 AM
And we're off!
Air Force band ensemble playing the opening notes of this year's CRNoAFA Air Power Conference!
The online stream is up too!
vimeo.com/event/484240...
Air Force band ensemble playing the opening notes of this year's CRNoAFA Air Power Conference!
The online stream is up too!
vimeo.com/event/484240...
I believe the FDI and the T26 are the front runners here, although there are non-insignificant trade-offs inherent in both. F126 is a bit of a dark horse candidate, while Constellation, despite its obvious strengths, is very much the wrong choice for the Norwegian Navy. F127 should be a non-starter.
December 13, 2024 at 3:41 PM
I believe the FDI and the T26 are the front runners here, although there are non-insignificant trade-offs inherent in both. F126 is a bit of a dark horse candidate, while Constellation, despite its obvious strengths, is very much the wrong choice for the Norwegian Navy. F127 should be a non-starter.
The FDI is the likeliest one to be available in time for 2029/30. F126 and T26 could be if the Brits or Germany accepted delayed deliveries for their own navies. Constellation is by far and away the riskiest option, with deliveries probably unlikely before well into the 2030s.
December 13, 2024 at 3:40 PM
The FDI is the likeliest one to be available in time for 2029/30. F126 and T26 could be if the Brits or Germany accepted delayed deliveries for their own navies. Constellation is by far and away the riskiest option, with deliveries probably unlikely before well into the 2030s.
Delivery timeframe and security is another key issue. If and when push comes to shove, much better a good enough vessel in commission than a perfect one half-way through construction.
December 13, 2024 at 3:39 PM
Delivery timeframe and security is another key issue. If and when push comes to shove, much better a good enough vessel in commission than a perfect one half-way through construction.
An ASW platform with more than self-defence AAW ability, and serious ability to integrate in RAP and AirSea sensor-shooter loops would give boost all-important joint ops in the Norwegian and Barents Seas. Despite the attractiveness of the FDI package, T26 is probably a safer bet here.
December 13, 2024 at 3:37 PM
An ASW platform with more than self-defence AAW ability, and serious ability to integrate in RAP and AirSea sensor-shooter loops would give boost all-important joint ops in the Norwegian and Barents Seas. Despite the attractiveness of the FDI package, T26 is probably a safer bet here.
But the Navy may not be particularly interested in either of those requirements. ASW capability is king (and it is important, given the operational environment and SLOC protection requirements), but I wouldn’t be surprised if they chose to pay less heed than they probably should to joint concerns.
December 13, 2024 at 3:35 PM
But the Navy may not be particularly interested in either of those requirements. ASW capability is king (and it is important, given the operational environment and SLOC protection requirements), but I wouldn’t be surprised if they chose to pay less heed than they probably should to joint concerns.
Likewise, the Air Force would likely pick something with area air defence capability, and likely as not also BMD capability. FDI would probably be discarded due to F-35 and P-8 integration concerns. So we’re again left with Constellation/F127.
December 13, 2024 at 3:32 PM
Likewise, the Air Force would likely pick something with area air defence capability, and likely as not also BMD capability. FDI would probably be discarded due to F-35 and P-8 integration concerns. So we’re again left with Constellation/F127.
Hence I suspect that if the Army was allowed to chose a frigate they would pick something with a long range land attack capability. A Tomahawk armed Constellation (or even F127) probably. And in order to get that, they could probably live with the delivery timeframe slipping badly.
December 13, 2024 at 2:24 PM
Hence I suspect that if the Army was allowed to chose a frigate they would pick something with a long range land attack capability. A Tomahawk armed Constellation (or even F127) probably. And in order to get that, they could probably live with the delivery timeframe slipping badly.
Likewise, I suspect that navy priorities will take precedence over joint force concerns. This is a long-standing issue in Norwegian defence procurement: there is much talk but much less actual effort spent on joint ops synergies.
December 13, 2024 at 2:22 PM
Likewise, I suspect that navy priorities will take precedence over joint force concerns. This is a long-standing issue in Norwegian defence procurement: there is much talk but much less actual effort spent on joint ops synergies.
With 200 crew, manning five Constellation class vessels would take up a quarter of the active-duty force(!) With double crews for some of the vessels, we’re probably talking more in the range of 1500 people. The German or French option with only half the crew requirement is much more feasible.
December 13, 2024 at 2:19 PM
With 200 crew, manning five Constellation class vessels would take up a quarter of the active-duty force(!) With double crews for some of the vessels, we’re probably talking more in the range of 1500 people. The German or French option with only half the crew requirement is much more feasible.
The Norwegian Navy is a small force, counting only about 2500 officers and specialists plus 1500 conscripts. Even though some expansion is planned, there are hard limits to how many active-duty personnel that can be assigned to the Frigate arm.
December 13, 2024 at 2:15 PM
The Norwegian Navy is a small force, counting only about 2500 officers and specialists plus 1500 conscripts. Even though some expansion is planned, there are hard limits to how many active-duty personnel that can be assigned to the Frigate arm.
Norwegian industry participation and buyback is always an important factor in military procurement, here there is some difference between the candidates. Crewing will also be an important consideration going forward.
December 13, 2024 at 2:13 PM
Norwegian industry participation and buyback is always an important factor in military procurement, here there is some difference between the candidates. Crewing will also be an important consideration going forward.