A Boeing this Thursday (18) delivered the first of five P-8A Poseidon patrol jets to Norway.
The delivery of the first P-8A to the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) comes two months after its first flight. The aircraft, dubbed the Vingtor, was handed over in a ceremony held at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.
“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 protect our sovereignty and understand developments in these areas”, said Mette Sørfonden, director general of the Norwegian Defense Materials Agency (NDMA).
“I am delighted that NDMA will soon be able to provide the Norwegian Armed Forces with an entirely new generation of aircraft that will play an important role in preserving our national security for years to come.”
Signed, sealed, delivered! Take a look at Vingtor, the first of five #P8 Poseidon aircraft we just delivered to Norway. This unmatched multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft will dramatically improve surveillance of Norwegian and adjacent waters. pic.twitter.com/eTsTi081hd
- Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) November 18, 2021
Norway has acquired five Poseidons to replace six P-3C Orions and two DA-20 Falcon Jets. The purchase also includes industrial cooperation between Boeing and Norwegian companies Nammo, Berget, Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace and Andoya Space. The new jets will be operated by 333 Squadron from Evenes Air Base.
The other P-8s will be called Viking, Ulabrand, Hugin e Munin, continuing a Norwegian tradition of almost 80 years. The same names, drawn from Norse mythology, were used on Norway's PBY-5 Catalina aircraft during World War II.
“We are honored to provide this unparalleled multi-mission maritime patrol capability to Norway,” said Stu Voboril, P-8 vice president and program manager.
“Norway s seven other global customers who have chosen or already operate the P-8 and benefit greatly from its long-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. We look forward to enhancing our ongoing and enduring partnership with the US Navy and Royal Norwegian Air Force, and ing the maintenance and training needs of the future fleet.”
Norway is one of eight nations that have chosen the P-8A as their maritime patrol aircraft, along with the United States, India, Australia, United Kingdom, South Korea, New Zealand and .
