Norway is taking important step forward in the modernisation of its land forces tactical communications with the procurement of several new systems.
On 15th January, Clavister was awarded a contract worth $31 million to develop the Norwegian armed forces’ Tactical Core Network System (TCNS). Of that sum, $28 million is for the system’s development with $3 million covering support and maintenance. The contract also contains options valued at an additional $1.6 million. The company will provide its networking and security software is the basis for the Tactical Core Network System. A Clavister press release continued that work on the TCNS will commence by the end of the first quarter of 2026, concluding three years later.
The TCNS initiative falls within the Norwegian Defence Material Agency’s (NDMA’s) Mime combat Information and Communications Technology undertaking. According to reports, Kongsberg is the prime contractor for the initiative. It will design the overall Mime architecture and perform systems integration. According to Norwegian government documents, the capabilities procured via Mime will enter service with the country’s armed forces from 2028 with this process concluding in circa 2030. Mime will be delivered in three tranches: The first runs between 2025 and 2026 and is expected to cost up to $303 million, with the second tranche following in 2027 and concluding in 2028. This latter tranche should be worth circa $253 million with the last tranche commencing and concluding in 2029. The final tranche is expected to cost $202 million.
Thor
Mime’s delivery will complement the NDMA’s Thor tactical communications procurement programme. In July 2024, the Kongsberg received a contract to provide its Thor multiband tactical radios for Norwegian Army vehicles. Kongsberg already provides several transceivers to the force including its K-Tacs, and MH600 and MV600 very high frequency (30 megahertz/MHz to 300MHz) handheld and vehicular/backpack transceivers. MH600 radios are routinely used by dismounted infantry commanders. Thor will replace the MV600 radios routinely deployed onboard Norwegian Army manoeuvre force vehicles. Beyond-line-of-sight trunk communications are facilitated by L3Harris AN/PRC-150 High Frequency (HF: three megahertz to 30MHz) radios. Satellite communications can be accessed via the force’s L3Harris AN/PRC-117F/G radio which cover frequencies of 30MHz to two gigahertz.
Alongside Thor, Armada understands the NDMA will acquire a new two-channel, vehicular/backpack radio via an acquisition that could be work up to $94.5 million. These new radios will replace existing vehicular/manpack transceivers not covered by the Thor acquisition. A decision on which systems will fulfil this requirement could be made by the end of this year, and deliveries could follow between 2028 and 2030. Other future tactical radio procurements could include a new system to replace the AN/PRC-150.
TCNS defined
A spokesperson for the NDMA told Armada that the Tactical Core Network System is a “software and network logic layer that will provide our forces with user-friendly, robust connectivity across all available military and civilian communications carriers in the theatre of operations”. The latter point is particularly important: The Norwegian military plans to acquire a dedicated fifth generation (5G) communications capability known as the 5G Military Coverage Extension Network. Armada has been informed that military 5G provision will see the Norwegian government initially providing 2.3MHz of dedicated bandwidth on Norway’s 5G network. Although reserved for military use, this bandwidth will not be permanently allocated. Instead, the frequencies will be rapidly made available in times of war or crisis. Military users will access the bandwidth using a dedicated subscriber identity module card they can add to their smartphones. The 5G Military Coverage Extension Network is expected to be made available by circa 2030.
The TCNS is primarily “a software solution intended to be run on tactical communications nodes already in use, as well as future hardware and virtual platforms”, the spokesperson continued. Moreover, “TCNS is intended to replace older software solutions that provide similar capabilities currently in use, while also expanding on functionality to serve future needs”.
As tensions in northern Europe increase Norway’s tactical communications modernisation is the right approach at the right moment. The combination of the TCNS, new tactical radios and the 5G Mobile Coverage Extension Network overhauls the links the Norwegian Army depends on. The connectivity of the Norwegian armed forces writ large will also benefit. Furthermore, these procurements will help accelerate Norway’s implementation of NATO’s Multi Domain Operations doctrine.
by Dr. Thomas Withington
