Norway announced plans in April 2024 to buy long-range drones, possibly similar to the RQ-B Global Hawk, to bolster its surveillance of the Barents Sea and Arctic region. NORTHRUP GRUMMANN
THE WATCH STAFF
Norway will purchase large drones capable of long-range surveillance in the Barents Sea and station them at a reopened air base on an island in the far north of the Nordic country. The government announced the reopening of Andøya Air Station, 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, in April 2024, saying the plans to buy the drones will improve Norway’s domain awareness in an increasingly tense Arctic region, Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said in a statement. “Long-range drones are a brand-new asset in our Armed Forces that will enhance our continuous situation awareness and surveillance of the region,” he said. “Good situation awareness is crucial for our ability to enact national control and freedom of action.”
Andøya had hosted P-3 Orion maritime surveillance planes until June 2023. It was shuttered after Norway replaced the planes with P-9 Poseidon aircraft. The government hasn’t bought the drones yet or announced how much they will cost. Aside from surveillance, the drones will be used to respond to natural catastrophes and rescue situations. The government said they will be operated by a multinational allied force that will train, manage and develop the drones, according to the Barents Observer, a Norwegian newspaper. The air base will also contain a new joint training and development department and remain open to allied aircraft in both peacetime and war. The 2,440- and 1,670-meter runways can accommodate a large range of warplanes. Andøya Spaceport, which operates Norway’s space program, is also on the island. “The government has big ambitions for Andøya,” Gram said.
Drones have been an important weapon in recent wars, especially Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russia has suffered large losses of soldiers and equipment on the battlefield from Ukrainian drones. Russia recently held exercises with its Northern Fleet, based in the nearby Kola Peninsula, in which frigates fending off unmanned drone attacks figured prominently. Another training exercise involved a simulated drone attack on the Severomorsk military base, according to the Barents News. The dual nature of Andøya’s installations positions Norway to play a major role in Arctic defense, including in space.
“Space-based services are central to military operations and are becoming increasingly important in cooperation with allies, partners, and in the NATO community. Secure access to space will become central in line with the development of satellite-based services. The Government has a clear ambition for Norway to be at the forefront among allies when it comes to situational awareness in the north. Satellites help provide an overview of what is happening in our neighbouring areas, and Andøya has a unique location when it comes to access to outer space,” Gram said in the statement.
Norway will develop the ability to rapidly replace satellites when needed for national or international needs and will strengthen the defenses of the base to safeguard its important assets, the government said. The joint training and development unit and permanent security will be established, the release stated. “Andøya Air Station is important in NATO’s planning. Andøya, Værnes, Sola and Bodø are being further developed to be able to receive allies in peacetime and to be able to receive larger numbers of allied air forces in crisis and war,” Gram said.