Ildstøtten

Ildstøtten is a Norwegian term for fire support—the firepower and related processes used to aid friendly ground units in military operations. It encompasses the planning, coordination, and execution of fires delivered by artillery, mortars, rocket systems, naval guns, and air-delivered munitions, as well as guided munitions when integrated with ground operations. Fire support is typically coordinated from a fire-direction center or through forward observers who locate targets and authorize or request fire in accordance with a commander’s intent. The aim is to suppress, neutralize, or disrupt enemy formations and to shape the battlefield to enable maneuver.

Historically, ildstøtten developed with the expansion of indirect fire capabilities in the 19th and 20th centuries, progressing toward greater precision and integration in the modern era. In contemporary doctrine, ildstøtten emphasizes coordination among artillery, aviation, and other fire-support assets, including suppression and interdiction, counter-battery fire, and the use of precision-guided munitions. The concept is implemented within Norwegian and allied forces through doctrine, training, and organizational units dedicated to fire support, though the specific structures may vary by branch and nation.

Related concepts include indirect fire, call for fire, forward observer, fire-direction center, and close air support.