Oslo (Agencies) July 18, 2025: NATO has announced plans to open a third permanent Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Norway, expanding its strategic air command footprint in Europe amid growing security concerns in the High North. The new facility will complement existing CAOCs in Uedem, Germany and Torrejón, Spain, and will focus primarily on coordinating military air operations across the Nordic region and Arctic territories.
The Norwegian government confirmed that the Reitan mountain facility, currently home to the Joint Headquarters of the Norwegian Armed Forces, has been selected as the permanent site for the new CAOC. Until construction is completed, operations will begin later this year from a temporary location at Bodø Air Base, which previously hosted a provisional CAOC during NATO exercises in March 2024.
An alliance official stated that the new CAOC will “plan, direct, task, coordinate, supervise, and support military air operations” in close collaboration with the existing centers in Germany and Spain, as well as the Deployable Air Command and Control Centre (DACCC) in Poggio Renatico, Italy.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized the strategic importance of the High North, citing increased Russian military activity and Arctic ambitions as key factors behind the decision. “Norway’s most important strategic interests lie in the High North. It therefore makes sense for the new Allied air operations centre to be located in the north,” he said during a press conference in Bodo.
The CAOC is expected to bring up to 400 new jobs to the region and reinforce Bodo’s role as a hub for NATO’s northern air command. The Norwegian Ministry of Defence estimates the total investment for the facility at between NOK 6.7 and 9.4 billion, with partial funding from NATO member states.
The move comes as part of NATO’s broader effort to enhance regional coordination among Nordic allies. Finland will host a NATO Forward Land Force, Sweden will establish a logistics command, and Denmark and Norway will co-lead a special forces command—all under the umbrella of Joint Force Command Norfolk.
The new CAOC is expected to be fully operational by 2027, following phased upgrades to the Reitan facility. Defense analysts view the development as a pivotal step in strengthening NATO’s deterrence posture in the Arctic and reinforcing collective defense capabilities across Northern Europe.