NATO to open third permanent CAOC

NATO is to establish a new permanent CAOC in Norway to augment the two already operational in Germany (pictured) and Spain. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

NATO is to open a third Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Norway to augment those already operational in Germany and Spain.

An alliance official told Janes on 17 July of the plan to establish the CAOC in the Nordic country to function alongside those at Uedem in Germany and Torrejón in Spain.

“NATO is planning to open a permanent third CAOC in Norway. This new CAOC will plan, direct, task, co-ordinate, supervise, and support military air operations primarily in the Nordic regions and the High North. It will work closely with the two existing CAOCs in Uedem and Torrejón, as well as with the Deployable Air Command and Control Centre (DACCC) based at Poggio Renatico, in northern Italy,” the official said.

The Norwegian government announced in May that it had proposed the mountain facility of Reitan, which is the current site of the Joint Headquarters of the Norwegian Armed Forces, for the new CAOC. Nearby Bodø Air Base will temporarily accommodate the CAOC, commencing operations later in 2025, until construction work is completed at Reitan.

Norway recently hosted a temporary CAOC at Bodø Air Base for exercises in March 2024, drawing personnel from the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the air forces of the three other Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, along with substantial support from the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) and US Air Force (USAF). It will now build on that experience as its establishes its new permanent facility.

For more information on Nordic air forces co-operation, please see Nordic countries combine combat air power .