Norway eyes US maritime surveillance drones for Arctic patrols and real-time sea tracking
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According to Defense News on July 1, 2025, Norway continues deliberations over the procurement of long-range uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) for maritime surveillance, with two U.S.-based vendors, Northrop Grumman and General Atomics, actively competing for the contract. The decision is linked to Norway’s 2025–2036 Long-Term Defence Plan and the Defence Pledge, which includes the acquisition of a small number of drones equipped with persistent surveillance sensors for deployment between 2029 and 2032.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Norway reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing maritime situational awareness in the Arctic by evaluating two US drones: the MQ-4C Triton by Northrop Grumman and the MQ-9B SeaGuardian by General Atomics. (Picture source: Northrop Grumman and General Atomics)
The Norwegian Ministry of Defence and Forsvarsmateriell (NDMA) are conducting a concept selection study in close coordination with the Royal Norwegian Air Force to define operational requirements and assess platform suitability. Brigadier General Jarle Nergård, NDMA Air Systems Division Director, confirmed that no flight tests have been scheduled and that no final decision has been made. The aircraft are intended to operate from Andøya Air Station, located 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, which will be maintained and developed as a permanent base for drone operations and space activities following a reversal of its planned closure.
Northrop Grumman has offered its MQ-4C Triton, a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) platform currently entering operational service with the U.S. Navy. The company recently delivered the fourth MQ-4C to the Navy, completing the first orbit for Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19, with a second orbit expected this summer. The Triton is designed for global 24/7 multi-intelligence maritime surveillance and is interoperable with the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, a key feature also emphasized by Norwegian officials. Norway currently operates five P-8As, with deliveries having begun in 2022 to replace the P-3 Orion and DA-20 Jet Falcon aircraft. Interoperability with the P-8 is considered essential in order to monitor Norway’s extensive maritime territory. The Triton is categorized as a HALE platform, enabling long-duration missions at altitudes above 50,000 feet and wide-area surveillance with fewer aircraft.
General Atomics has submitted the MQ-9B SeaGuardian for consideration, a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) derivative of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian. SeaGuardian integrates modular maritime sensors, has a reported endurance of over 30 hours, and supports missions in all weather conditions. It is capable of operating over the horizon via SATCOM and includes features such as a 360° maritime radar, Automatic Identification System (AIS), electronic support measures (ESM), and a self-contained anti-submarine warfare (ASW) kit. It is also the first RPAS in its class to support real-time maritime ISR above and below the ocean surface. The aircraft can carry four Sonobuoy Dispenser System pods for up to 40 ‘A’-size or 80 ‘G’-size sonobuoys. A recent upgrade validated the integration of a new software targeting capability using Link 16 to transmit sensor data to weapons in-flight, demonstrated during a ground test and planned for a live-fire demonstration later in 2025. SeaGuardian was previously tested in a joint operation with the Royal Air Force’s P-8 and is currently used by several countries for naval ISR and ASW tasks.
On June 25, 2025, Jane Bishop, Vice President and General Manager of Global Surveillance at Northrop Grumman, published a blog post directly comparing the two platforms. She claimed that SeaGuardian, as a MALE system, operates at about half the Triton’s service ceiling and argued that the lower altitude increases the risk of being shot down, referencing recent drone losses over Yemen by the Houthis. Bishop also wrote that Norway would need to acquire up to four times more SeaGuardians to match the operational capacity of a single Triton. A General Atomics spokesperson declined to comment. Independent analysis notes that Northrop Grumman’s HALE platforms have also suffered losses, including the 2019 downing of a U.S. Navy BAMS-D drone by Iran. Both manufacturers continue to develop survivability features, but the platforms remain vulnerable in contested environments where adversaries possess advanced air defense systems.
Both platforms are advertised as interoperable with the P-8A Poseidon. Northrop Grumman has cooperated with Australia to develop joint operations between the Triton and Australian P-8s. General Atomics has conducted similar integration exercises with the British Royal Air Force. SeaGuardian is further marketed as capable of fulfilling additional missions, including search and rescue, humanitarian disaster response, airborne mine countermeasures, over-the-horizon targeting, and law enforcement. General Atomics emphasizes its airspace integration features, including a Detect and Avoid system approved for civil use in the U.S. and UK. The system meets NATO STANAG 4671 standards and can operate in mixed civil-military environments. It features an open architecture mission system, automatic takeoff and landing capability, dual SATCOM links, and a fatigue-tolerant 40,000-hour airframe. Cold-weather tests were conducted in North Dakota in 2023, and SeaGuardian has demonstrated maritime targeting functions during the U.S. Navy’s RIMPAC 2024 exercise.
Norway’s long-term defense plan places strong emphasis on improving situational awareness in the northern regions. The government intends to expand capabilities to detect, warn, and interpret the intentions of potential adversaries. This includes plans to acquire new satellites for communications and surveillance, enhance the effectiveness of maritime patrol aircraft with the acquisition of a P-8 simulator at Evenes, and upgrade the operational headquarters and military information infrastructure. The preservation and expansion of Andøya Air Station is central to these plans, with intentions to base both drone and space-related missions at the facility. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to leverage national capabilities while maintaining close cooperation with allied countries and contributing to international operations.
Although the Norwegian government has not disclosed a specific budget for the drone acquisition, it has recently committed approximately $620 million to a UK-led maritime coalition to develop uncrewed surface vessels for deployment in Ukraine, using Kongsberg technology. This investment underscores Oslo’s broader defense-industrial cooperation approach and its intent to contribute to allied maritime ISR capabilities. The drone acquisition is expected to follow the same principles, focusing on interoperability, mission efficiency, and integration with allied platforms. The emphasis on high endurance, multi-mission adaptability, and civil-military interoperability reflects both domestic defense priorities and Norway’s role within NATO’s northern command structure. Whether the final selection favors the HALE Triton or the MALE SeaGuardian, the procurement will mark a significant modernization step in Norwegian maritime surveillance.
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According to Defense News on July 1, 2025, Norway continues deliberations over the procurement of long-range uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) for maritime surveillance, with two U.S.-based vendors, Northrop Grumman and General Atomics, actively competing for the contract. The decision is linked to Norway’s 2025–2036 Long-Term Defence Plan and the Defence Pledge, which includes the acquisition of a small number of drones equipped with persistent surveillance sensors for deployment between 2029 and 2032.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Norway reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing maritime situational awareness in the Arctic by evaluating two US drones: the MQ-4C Triton by Northrop Grumman and the MQ-9B SeaGuardian by General Atomics. (Picture source: Northrop Grumman and General Atomics)
The Norwegian Ministry of Defence and Forsvarsmateriell (NDMA) are conducting a concept selection study in close coordination with the Royal Norwegian Air Force to define operational requirements and assess platform suitability. Brigadier General Jarle Nergård, NDMA Air Systems Division Director, confirmed that no flight tests have been scheduled and that no final decision has been made. The aircraft are intended to operate from Andøya Air Station, located 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, which will be maintained and developed as a permanent base for drone operations and space activities following a reversal of its planned closure.
Northrop Grumman has offered its MQ-4C Triton, a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) platform currently entering operational service with the U.S. Navy. The company recently delivered the fourth MQ-4C to the Navy, completing the first orbit for Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19, with a second orbit expected this summer. The Triton is designed for global 24/7 multi-intelligence maritime surveillance and is interoperable with the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, a key feature also emphasized by Norwegian officials. Norway currently operates five P-8As, with deliveries having begun in 2022 to replace the P-3 Orion and DA-20 Jet Falcon aircraft. Interoperability with the P-8 is considered essential in order to monitor Norway’s extensive maritime territory. The Triton is categorized as a HALE platform, enabling long-duration missions at altitudes above 50,000 feet and wide-area surveillance with fewer aircraft.
General Atomics has submitted the MQ-9B SeaGuardian for consideration, a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) derivative of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian. SeaGuardian integrates modular maritime sensors, has a reported endurance of over 30 hours, and supports missions in all weather conditions. It is capable of operating over the horizon via SATCOM and includes features such as a 360° maritime radar, Automatic Identification System (AIS), electronic support measures (ESM), and a self-contained anti-submarine warfare (ASW) kit. It is also the first RPAS in its class to support real-time maritime ISR above and below the ocean surface. The aircraft can carry four Sonobuoy Dispenser System pods for up to 40 ‘A’-size or 80 ‘G’-size sonobuoys. A recent upgrade validated the integration of a new software targeting capability using Link 16 to transmit sensor data to weapons in-flight, demonstrated during a ground test and planned for a live-fire demonstration later in 2025. SeaGuardian was previously tested in a joint operation with the Royal Air Force’s P-8 and is currently used by several countries for naval ISR and ASW tasks.
On June 25, 2025, Jane Bishop, Vice President and General Manager of Global Surveillance at Northrop Grumman, published a blog post directly comparing the two platforms. She claimed that SeaGuardian, as a MALE system, operates at about half the Triton’s service ceiling and argued that the lower altitude increases the risk of being shot down, referencing recent drone losses over Yemen by the Houthis. Bishop also wrote that Norway would need to acquire up to four times more SeaGuardians to match the operational capacity of a single Triton. A General Atomics spokesperson declined to comment. Independent analysis notes that Northrop Grumman’s HALE platforms have also suffered losses, including the 2019 downing of a U.S. Navy BAMS-D drone by Iran. Both manufacturers continue to develop survivability features, but the platforms remain vulnerable in contested environments where adversaries possess advanced air defense systems.
Both platforms are advertised as interoperable with the P-8A Poseidon. Northrop Grumman has cooperated with Australia to develop joint operations between the Triton and Australian P-8s. General Atomics has conducted similar integration exercises with the British Royal Air Force. SeaGuardian is further marketed as capable of fulfilling additional missions, including search and rescue, humanitarian disaster response, airborne mine countermeasures, over-the-horizon targeting, and law enforcement. General Atomics emphasizes its airspace integration features, including a Detect and Avoid system approved for civil use in the U.S. and UK. The system meets NATO STANAG 4671 standards and can operate in mixed civil-military environments. It features an open architecture mission system, automatic takeoff and landing capability, dual SATCOM links, and a fatigue-tolerant 40,000-hour airframe. Cold-weather tests were conducted in North Dakota in 2023, and SeaGuardian has demonstrated maritime targeting functions during the U.S. Navy’s RIMPAC 2024 exercise.
Norway’s long-term defense plan places strong emphasis on improving situational awareness in the northern regions. The government intends to expand capabilities to detect, warn, and interpret the intentions of potential adversaries. This includes plans to acquire new satellites for communications and surveillance, enhance the effectiveness of maritime patrol aircraft with the acquisition of a P-8 simulator at Evenes, and upgrade the operational headquarters and military information infrastructure. The preservation and expansion of Andøya Air Station is central to these plans, with intentions to base both drone and space-related missions at the facility. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to leverage national capabilities while maintaining close cooperation with allied countries and contributing to international operations.
Although the Norwegian government has not disclosed a specific budget for the drone acquisition, it has recently committed approximately $620 million to a UK-led maritime coalition to develop uncrewed surface vessels for deployment in Ukraine, using Kongsberg technology. This investment underscores Oslo’s broader defense-industrial cooperation approach and its intent to contribute to allied maritime ISR capabilities. The drone acquisition is expected to follow the same principles, focusing on interoperability, mission efficiency, and integration with allied platforms. The emphasis on high endurance, multi-mission adaptability, and civil-military interoperability reflects both domestic defense priorities and Norway’s role within NATO’s northern command structure. Whether the final selection favors the HALE Triton or the MALE SeaGuardian, the procurement will mark a significant modernization step in Norwegian maritime surveillance.
