Norway is reactivating two of its most iconic Cold War military bunkers as tensions with Russia escalate following the invasion of Ukraine. The Bardufoss Air Station and Olavsvern naval base, both carved into mountains near the Russian border, are being brought back into service to protect advanced fighter jets and naval assets from potential attack.
During the Cold War, Norway built around 3,000 underground facilities to hide its forces from the Soviet Union. The Olavsvern base, protected by 900ft of gabbro rock, features a 3,000ft exit tunnel with blast doors. Bardufoss, opened in 1938, was used by German fighters during World War II and later by the Royal Norwegian Air Force until it was mothballed 40 years ago.
The reactivation aims to enhance the survivability of Norway's F-35 Lightning II jets, which cost up to $110m each. The war in Ukraine has shown how vulnerable aircraft are to cheap kamikaze drones, making hardened shelters like mountain bunkers essential. The bases have undergone structural and equipment upgrades to support these operations.
Olavsvern, located at the strategic Bear Gap where Russian submarines transit to the Atlantic, was built with NATO funding at a cost of $450m. It was closed in 2009 despite the growing Russian threat and sold to private investors in 2013 for £7m. The facility was later used for storage and even allowed Russian vessels access, prompting security concerns.
The Norwegian government now sees these bunkers as critical for national defence, reversing years of neglect. The move reflects a broader shift in Nordic security policy as Russia's military activity in the Arctic increases.
