Improving the Norwegian Armed Forces by exploiting modern information and communication technology

Information and communications technology is a pivotal part in the development of the Norwegian Armed Forces. This report investigates how the evolution within the field of information and communications technology can help make the Norwegian Armed Forces solve their tasks better and more efficiently.

The report describes the technological development within four areas and the opportunities the development can give. The four areas are

1. exploitation of big data,
2. cloud technology,
3. fifth generation mobile network (5G), and
4. ubiquitous high-speed communication.

Consequently, the report lays out four examples on how these opportunities can benefit the Norwegian Armed Forces, describing possible gains, risks and costs. The four examples consider i) efficient and secure ICT infrastructure, ii) cooperation with civil crisis management actors, iii) mobility in military operations, and iv) exploitation of sensor data.

From the identified gains, risks and costs the report derives a number of recommendations that we believe will improve the ability of the Norwegian Armed Forces to solve their most demanding tasks. The recommendations include both acquisition of material, development of competency and cooperation with other actors. We stress that this report focuses on technology and that the report only considers selected areas within the field of information and communications technology and possible use of these in the Norwegian Armed Forces. The recommendations in the report must be read in this context.