The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) has accepted the first of five Boeing P-8A POSEIDON Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) that will be operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF), according to a press release from Boeing.
Norway’s first P-8A aircraft, named VINGTOR, was delivered to the NDMA during a ceremony at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, yesterday. The milestone comes four years after the NDMA entered into an agreement with the US Navy for the P-8A POSEIDON, and two years before the new aircraft are scheduled to begin taking over maritime patrol duties in Norway’s high north.
Norway’s four remaining aircraft are all in advanced stages of production and will be delivered to the NDMA in 2022, the company states. The five P-8As will replace the RNoAF current fleet of six P-3 ORIONs and two DA-20 JET FALCONs. They 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 an industrial cooperation plan related to Norway’s acquisition of five P-8A aircraft.
The delivery to Norway also marks the 142nd P-8 aircraft delivered to global customers, including:
- the US Navy
- the Royal Australian Air Force
- the Indian Navy
- the UK’s Royal Air Force
First deliveries to New Zealand, South Korea and Germany will take place in 2022, 2023 and 2024 respectively.
JH
