The annual Exercise POMOR is the most extensive joint action involving Norwegian and Russian forces. The drills usually focus on anti-terror and anti-piracy operations, interception of fast-speed boats illegally crossing the state borders, search and rescue operations. The exercise will also include joint maneuvering, live artillery firing, anti-aircraft defense and detection of submarines.
The last couple of years the exercise has started in Severomorsk on May 9 with crew members from both countries taking part in celebrations of the Victory Day and ended in Bodø on May 17, with participation in celebrations of the Norwegian Constitution Day.
The POMOR-2013 will also take place in Russian and Norwegian waters between the two naval bases of Severomorsk and Bodø, the Northern Fleet’s press center reports.
Exercise Barents is a joint Russian-Norwegian drill focusing on search and rescue and oil spill response. It is normally conducted in the outer parts of the Varanger fjord and has been held annually since the 1980-ies. The traditional main partners in these exercises are the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Northern Norway in Bodø and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Murmansk.
Planning of Exercise Barents alters between the two countries every year. The 2012 exercise was planned by the Russian side and included search and rescue of the crew of a Russian fishing vessel and cleanup of some 250 tons of diesel oil leaking from the shipwreck.
The FRUKUS-2013 exercise will be the largest international naval exercise that the Northern Fleet will participate in in 2013. This is an annual exercise which usually involves vessels from France, United Kingdom, United States and Russia. The Northern Fleet’s press service, however, names Norway and not United Kingdom as partner in this year’s exercise. France is chosen to be the hosting country for FRUKUS-2013.
Photos from POMOR-2012:
