Adapted by:
Miguel Jorge
WriterJournalist. I've spent more than half of my life writing about technology, science, and culture. Before landing here, I worked at Telefónica, Prisa, Globus Comunicación, Hipertextual, and Gizmodo. I'm part of Webedia's cross-section team.
Karen Alfaro
WriterCommunications professional with a decade of experience as a copywriter, proofreader, and editor. As a travel and science journalist, I've collaborated with several print and digital outlets around the world. I'm passionate about culture, music, food, history, and innovative technologies.
This story dates back to the Cold War. The plan aimed to contain a likely Soviet naval attack through a key Arctic Ocean corridor. This led to the term “Bear Gap” and a series of underground constructions, with Norway playing a significant role. Now, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Nordic nation is reactivating these secret facilities.
The origin of the bases. During the Cold War, Norway’s strategic location near the Soviet Union prompted it to build about 3,000 underground facilities. The country designed these bunkers to protect Norwegian and allied aircraft, submarines, and troops from a possible Soviet attack.
Many of these structures, hidden within mountains and fjords, remained secret even from locals. Among them were the Bardufoss Air Station and the Olavsvern Naval Base—fortified complexes carved into rock, featuring hangars, command centers, maintenance areas, fuel depots, and underground exits capable of withstanding nuclear attacks.
Reactivation. According to the BBC, Norway decided to reactivate Bardufoss and Olavsvern decades after the Soviet Union collapsed. The decision was driven by deteriorating regional security following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and increased Russian military activity in the Arctic since the mid-2000s.
Opened in 1938 and used by the Germans during World War II to protect the battleship Tirpitz, Bardufoss Air Base later served as a Cold War defense hub against potential Soviet offensives. Today, modernized and equipped to house F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, it ensures the survival of these aircraft against threats such as kamikaze drones—whose effectiveness was demonstrated in the Ukraine conflict. Unlike battlefield solutions such as fishing nets or tire covers, Bardufoss offers real protection with its hardened shelters inside the mountain.
Olavsvern and its significance. Norway built Olavsvern Naval Base in the 1950s with substantial NATO funding to control the Bear Gap, a crucial sea passage between the Norwegian coast, Bear Island, and Svalbard. Russian submarines have long used this route to enter the Atlantic.
Olavsvern features an underground port with direct sea access, a dry dock, a command center, and extensive logistics facilities protected by thick layers of gabbro and a massive blast door. Despite its closure in 2009 and controversial private sale—which temporarily allowed access to Russian ships—WilNor Governmental Services, linked to Norway’s Ministry of Defense, regained control of the base in 2020 and began rehabilitation. The base now hosts an active military presence again. The U.S. Navy has shown strong interest in using it for its nuclear submarines.
The Bear Gap’s strategic role. The Bear Gap describes the sea corridor between Norway’s coast, Bear Island, and the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. This passage is a critical chokepoint through which Russian submarines and warships travel from the Kola Peninsula’s Northern Fleet base to the North Atlantic.
During the Cold War and today, NATO has considered this corridor vital for monitoring, detecting, and, if necessary, blocking Russian naval forces. It remains one of the most accessible routes between the Barents Sea and the Atlantic, making bases like Olavsvern and other Norwegian Arctic facilities strategically crucial. Controlling this passage helps prevent Russian submarines carrying strategic missiles—nuclear or conventional—from operating freely in the Atlantic.
Arctic resurgence. Norway’s base reactivations are part of a broader trend. Russia has reopened nearly 50 Soviet-era military facilities in the Arctic. Meanwhile, Sweden has reactivated its Muskö submarine base, China has constructed new submarine and command centers, and Iran has built its so-called “missile city” in the Persian Gulf.
With Russia ramping up military exercises in the Arctic and seeking to exploit the region’s natural resources, Norway has revived its Cold War-era defense strategy. The approach emphasizes underground protection not only for its armed forces but also as a critical NATO foothold.
Benefits and limitations of bunkers. Despite their strategic value, reactivating old bunkers presents challenges. Many are in disrepair, flooded, or structurally compromised, making upgrades costly and complex. Additionally, satellites have identified sites like Olavsvern as potential targets for decades, reducing their element of surprise.
Nonetheless, analysts agree that underground facilities remain among the best defenses against modern airborne threats, including guided missiles—provided their vulnerabilities are properly addressed. By investing in these hardened shelters, Norway is reinforcing resilience and deterrence in a region where Russia continues to project military power.
Image |israel palacio (Unsplash)
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