On November 25, the Norwegian Government decided to procure five Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft for delivery in 2021 and 2022.
Norway’s Minister of Defence, Ine Eriksen Søreide said: “The new maritime patrol aircraft will be a formidable tool for surveillance of our vast maritime areas in the north. Norway has an important task in maintaining the situational awareness in national and adjacent waters, both on and below the surface, on behalf of the [NATO] Alliance. The maritime domain is becoming more important as we speak.”
The five P-8A Poseidon aircraft will replace the Luftforsvaret’s (Royal Norwegian Air Force) six P-3 Orions operated by 333 skv at Andoya Air Base, and three Falcon 20s operated by 717 skv at Oslo-Gardermoen. The operating base for the P-8As has not been announced.
The Norwegian Parliament has received the proposal and is expected to reach a resolution regarding the acquisition in mid-December.
