Forsvarets

Forsvaret, or the Norwegian Armed Forces, is the national military organization responsible for defending Norway's sovereignty and contributing to international security. It operates under the Government of Norway through the Ministry of Defence. The monarch serves as ceremonial commander-in-chief, while the Chief of Defence (Forsvarssjef) holds overall military command of the forces.

Forsvaret comprises four branches: the Army (Hæren), the Navy (Sjøforsvaret), the Air Force (Luftforsvaret), and the Home Guard (Heimevernet). The Forsvarets operative hovedkvarter coordinates operations between branches, supported by specialized commands and logistics.

Conscription is in place in Norway, with service open to both men and women and governed by the principle of gender equality. The armed forces recruit conscripts for a period of service and maintain a pool of personnel for professional service and reserve units. The objective is to maintain readiness to defend the country and to participate in international missions when required.

Internationally, Forsvaret is a member of NATO and contributes to alliance missions and peacekeeping operations, as well as bilateral exercises and disaster-response operations. In recent years it has focused on high-readiness forces, Arctic and maritime security, and modernization of equipment including aircraft, ships, and advanced communication and surveillance systems.