NATO has opened a new avenue, i.e. Nordic CAOC (Combined Air Operation Center), to test & consolidate the air defense of the Nordic Nations (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland). CAOC will largely guarantee the protection of air authority in northern flank of NATO. The CAOC will comprise of experts, fighters, personnel & assets sourced from the 4 Nordic countries, well-supported by USAF (United States Air Force) & RAF (Royal Air Force-Britain).

“The concept of a joint Nordic air operations centre is currently being tested for the first time, this is happening in connection with the major NATO Exercise ‘Nordic Response’, which is taking place in the northern part of Norway, Sweden, and Finland.”- Danish Ministry of Defense.

F-16 Denmark Air force (Picture Source- Wikipedia)

The initiative is being looked at as a temporary measure & an experiment to assess the feasibility of long-expected aim of the Nordic nations amid emerging security threats triggered by Russian war against Ukraine.

Recent inclusion of Sweden & Finland into NATO has strengthened the idea of a joint operation center and this experimental COAC exhibits the potential to carry out air surveillance, defend security threats in NATO northern flank, arising from the bordered Russia’s northern military administrative territory, which accommodates serious air-sea-land military capabilities.

The newly found amalgamation between the Nordic nations is now bolstered with accession of Sweden & Finland into NATO and this experimental CAOC unleashes an array of strategic prospects from the Baltic Sea to the Arctic. Sweden, Finland, Denmark & Norway are already part of Cross Border Training Framework, vide which the air forces of the 4 nations conduct weekly exercises.

Commanders of 4 countries had signed a joint letter of intent in March 2023, at Ramstein air base in Germany, to establish a combined Nordic Air Operation Concept to achieve integrated command & control, operational planning, surveillance, joint exercises. This Letter of Intent is the foundation of the now announced pilot project i.e. Nordic COAC.

A Sensible next initiative probably will be a Combined Nordic Navy to create a sphere of protection in the Baltic Sea zone, which accommodates the vital Nord Stream Pipelines, transmitting 55 billion Cubic Meters of gas per year, on the face of critical & deep threats originating from Russo-Ukrainian War.