The main mission of the Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN) is to defend and secure national sovereignty over Norway’s coastal and offshore territories – alone or together with Norway’s allies. The RNoN is currently undergoing a major modernisation, and has become significant more capable of carrying out its missions. Today, the RNoN consists of four main units:

  • The Norwegian Fleet – the Navy’s operational military force
  • The Norwegian Coast Guard – the main exerciser of Norwegian authority at sea
  • The Naval Education and Training (Schools) – the key provider of the competence required to accomplish the Navy’s mission
  • The Haakonsvern Naval Base – the RNoN main base, situated near Bergen on the west coast of Norway

The RNoN is equipped and staffed to conduct the full range of maritime warfare operations. As a part of the Norwegian Armed Forces, the RNON forms a part of the new networked defence organisation well linked up to Norway’s allies. A key responsibility for the RNoN is to secure Norway’s large and strategically important petroleum resources. This is ensured first of all by military presence as well as continuously demonstrating its capabilities. With an increasing focus of oil and gas resources, the arctic region is also becoming an important operational area for RNoN. Another important task for the RNoN is to ensure control over the fishery resources, with the Coast Guard playing a key role.


The Royal Norwegian Navy has been committed to international operations together with Norway’s allies since NATO was founded, contributing in international peacekeeping missions and crises relief operations. Norwegian minesweepers have for many years been clearing mines from WW II – both in Norwegian waters, and in the Baltic Sea. In 2006/07 Norwegian fast patrol boats were a major contributor to the UN in the maritime UNIFIL II-operations outside the coast of Lebanon. In 2009 RNoN have missions in Afghanistan, Mediterranean and Africa.