Rewritten – September 2006

Latest News:

February 2007 - Helicopter Requirement Still Open

The Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN) currently operates a naval air arm of six NH Industries NH-90 helicopters for use onboard the Fridtjof Nansen class frigates and twelve Agusta Westland Sea King helicopters from shore bases with the primary mission of surface surveillance and Search and Rescue (SAR). The Norwegian Coast Guard operates a fleet of four Lockheed P-3C Orion aircraft and six Agusta Westland Lynx helicopters. The P-3Cs are operated by the Coast Guard and perform long-range surface surveillance as well as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions. The Lynx helicopters are owned by the Coast Guard but are operated by the Norwegian Air Force in the roles of fishery protection, offshore oil protection and SAR. The Lynx helicopters are operated from shore facilities as well as the Coast Guard’s offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).

AMI is not aware of any modernization programs or new acquisitions of maritime patrol aircraft.

NH-90 Helicopter

1. NH Industries NH-90 Helicopter: On 19 September 2001, the RNoN and Coast Guard ordered twenty NH-90 transport/ASW helicopters from NH Industries. In 2004, the RNoN received the first six ASW variants to operate from the five Fridtjof Nansen class frigates. The ASW variants utilize the Thales Underwater Systems FLASH-S SONICS active dipping sonar and TMS 2000 sonobuoy processing systems; and can launch anti-submarine torpedoes. The fourteen Coast Guard NH-90s will be of the transport variant and will operate from various Coast Guard OPVs as well as shore bases primarily for SAR missions. Deliveries of the remaining fourteen will commence by late 2006.

AMI is not aware of any acquisitions of unmanned aerial vehicles.