Hybridkrig

Abstract

The study addresses hybrid warfare and its relevance to land operations conducted by the Norwegian Armed Forces. While the first part explores the recent phenomenon of hybrid warfare, the second asks whether hybrid warfare has any bearing on land operations. A land operation is a ground operation on Norwegian territory in which Norwegian Armed Forces engage conventional adversaries. Military theory traditionally recognises a dichotomy between guerrilla warfare and conventional warfare. Hybrid warfare is a fusion of both. In order to understand the theory of hybrid warfare better, this study investigates the 2006 Lebanon War and Hezbollah’s conduct of operations – focusing on strategies, tactics, techniques and procedures. Based on an analysis of Norway’s strategic culture, the authors find some elements of hybrid warfare of relevance to the Norwegian context, particularly the ability to absorb an enemy attack and to strategically strike the enemy. To succeed, land forces have to maintain fighting power, delay an enemy advance, and inflict maximum enemy losses. Land forces composed of a mix of light and heavy manoeuvre units, able to utilise complex terrain, speed and joint fires can achieve this. The Norwegian land forces’ ability to strategically strike the enemy is essentially indirect, and works by protecting and supporting other Norwegian and NATO capabilities such as Air Force assets.