The Norwegian Army says the accelerated formation of the brigade is linked, among other factors, to the deteriorating security situation in Europe. The new structure is intended to strengthen Norway’s military presence in Finnmark, the country’s northernmost region, Militarnyi reported.
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The Finnmark Brigade’s artillery battalion is being equipped with K9 VIDAR self-propelled howitzers, Norway’s version of the South Korean K9 Thunder.
The first four K9 VIDAR systems, along with support vehicles, have already arrived at the Garrison of Porsanger.
In 2025, the Norwegian government separately proposed allocating NOK 17 billion to develop the Army. Of that amount, NOK 5.6 billion was earmarked for the procurement of 24 K9 self-propelled howitzers to fully equip the Finnmark Brigade’s artillery battalion.
The K9 VIDAR can engage targets at ranges of more than 40 kilometers. In the future, the system is planned to use ramjet-powered ammunition, which could increase its effective range to more than 120 kilometers.
The formation of the artillery battalion is currently progressing faster than initially planned. The Norwegian Army expects the main conditions for its deployment to be in place by 2028.
The Finnmark Brigade is scheduled to be fully operational by 2033. It will then have around 4,000 personnel, including career soldiers, conscripts and reservists.
When the brigade was established in 2025, it had 280 permanent personnel. Their number is expected to increase to around 350 in fall 2026 and to 700-800 by 2033.
Finnmark Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Jon Olav Fuglem said the creation of the new units has already strengthened the military presence in the region. At the same time, the brigade needs new barracks, housing, offices and other infrastructure for further expansion.
Late last year, Norway announced plans to significantly strengthen its 198-kilometer border with Russia. The plans included new fencing, modern surveillance systems and drones for aerial monitoring.
