First of Five Aircraft on Order
On 18 November, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) accepted the first of five Boeing P-8A POSEIDON maritime patrol aircraft to be operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF).
“Norway is responsible for large maritime areas in a strategically important part of the world, and the new P-8A POSEIDON will represent a tremendous improvement in our ability to both protect our sovereignty and understand developments in these areas. Today’s delivery of our first P-8A is an important milestone in the modernisation of Norway’s maritime patrol aircraft capability,” commented Mette Sørfonden, NDMA Director-General. “I’m very pleased that the NDMA will soon be able to provide the Norwegian armed forces with a whole new generation of aircraft that will play an important role in preserving our national security for many years to come.”
The first airframe, named Vingtor, was handed over during a ceremony at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, WA. The milestone comes four years after the NDMA entered into an agreement with the U.S. Navy for the P-8A, and two years before the new aircraft are scheduled to begin taking over maritime patrol duties in Norway’s high north.
“Norway joins seven other global customers that have selected or already operate the P-8 and benefit greatly from its long-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities,” stated Stu Voboril, Boeing VP and Program Manager, P-8 Programs.
The four remaining aircraft, currently in production, will be delivered to the NDMA in 2022. The five P-8As will replace the current RNoAF fleet of six P-3 ORIONs and two DA-20 JET FALCONs, and will be operated by 333 Squadron at Evenes Air Station.
Norwegian companies Nammo, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Andoya Space and Berget currently have agreements with Boeing that are part of a tailored industrial cooperation plan related to Norway’s acquisition of the P-8A.
