Banak Air Station (Lakselv Airport)

Station Group Banak, formerly Banak Air Station, is located north of Lakselv in Porsanger Municipality, Finnmark. It is the northernmost installation of the Royal Norwegian Air Force. The airfield was established in 1938 for the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service. During the German occupation starting in 1940, the Luftwaffe expanded the base for use as a primary airfield in Northern Norway to facilitate attacks on Arctic convoys. Following the German retreat and the destruction of the site in 1944, the Royal Norwegian Air Force took control in 1945. The base was abandoned in 1952 before being reopened on 4 May 1963 with NATO funding. Throughout the Cold War, Norwegian policy restricted allied aircraft from using the base for peacetime operations due to its location east of the 24th meridian. In 1998, the station was reorganized as a station group under the 132nd Air Wing and Bodø Main Air Station.

The station is operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force and hosts a detachment of the 330 Squadron. This unit operates Westland Sea King helicopters tasked with search and rescue operations in Finnmark and the surrounding Barents, Norwegian, and Arctic Seas. The detachment maintains one helicopter on constant standby. The base also supports General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons for monitoring and training missions. Administrative oversight is provided by the 132nd Air Wing.

Banak is co-located with the civilian Lakselv Airport. Military facilities are concentrated on the western side of the airfield, while civilian operations occupy the eastern side. Infrastructure includes hangars and a communications building. The airfield is equipped with Instrument Landing System Category I.