The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) yesterday accepted the first of five P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft that will be operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF). 

The Country's first P-8A aircraft, named "Vingtor", was delivered to the NDMA during a ceremony at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington. The milestone comes four years after the NDMA entered into an agreement with the US 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’s four remaining aircraft are all in advanced stages of production and will be delivered to the NDMA in 2022. The five P-8As will replace the RNoAF current 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 five P-8A aircraft. The US company continues to work with the NDMA and Norwegian industry to expand that plan and support economic growth throughout Norway. 

The delivery to the Nordic country also marks the 142nd P-8 aircraft delivered to global customers, including the US Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Indian Navy and the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force. First deliveries to New Zealand, Korea and Germany will take place in 2022, 2023 and 2024 respectively.

To date, the global operating P-8 fleet has amassed more than 400,000 mishap-free flight hours. The model is a long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations. In addition, the P-8 performs humanitarian and search and rescue missions around the globe.

The data sheet of the airplane is attached to this AVIONEWS.