Airforces

Soviet military aircraft were also
encountered and photographed
by 333 Skvadron in its normal
operational area above
international waters. These usually
comprised Soviet MPAs on patrol
or Soviet quick reaction alert (QRA)
fighters scrambled to monitor
the Norwegian P-3s. In one
dramatic 1987 incident, a Soviet
Su-27 damaged a Norwegian
P-3B in a mid-air collision after
some extremely aggressive
flying by the Flanker pilot.
During the 1990s the Russian
Northern Fleet drastically reduced
its activities, and Norwegian-
Russian contacts became
relatively rare. However, in
recent years 333 Skvadron
has noticed an increase in
Russian naval movements.

The squadron also performs

many non-military missions, not

least SAR in the northern Atlantic

or other waters where SAR

helicopters are not available. With

its advanced sensor package,

the P-3C is well suited to locate

people in distress at sea, and it

can drop a SKAD (Survival Kit, Air

Droppable) pack when needed.

Since the attacks of September

11, 2001, international operations

have become increasingly

important for 333 Skvadron,

including support of missions

aimed at reducing the terrorist

threat by combating suspected

human and arms trafficking in

southern European or African

waters. Today 333 Skvadron

maintains one P-3C on readiness

for deployment out-of-area

at short notice as part of the

Luftforsvarets FIST-L readiness

concept (Forsvarets Insatsstyrke-

Luft, Military Reaction Force-Air).

The future will bring considerable

changes for 333 Skvadron. In

March 2017 Norway signed a

contract to acquire five Boeing

P-8A Poseidon MPAs, which

will replace the P-3 fleet as

well as the Dassault 20 Falcon

electronic warfare aircraft of 717

Skvadron at Gardermoen. The

P-8s are planned for delivery

to the RNoAF during 2021-

23. Both the US Navy and the
    Royal Air Force will fly the same
    aircraft, and the three nations are
    planning close co-operation in
    operations, logistics, maintenance
    and other MPA functions,
    including discussions of possible
    detachments of non-Norwegian
    P-8s to Norwegian air bases.
    Furthermore, the Norwegian
    government has decided to close
    down Andøya air base as a cost-
    saving measure, and relocate
    333 Skvadron to Evenes air base.
    This decision also involves the
    establishment of a permanent
    F-35A detachment at Evenes,
    which was considered necessary
    in order to maintain a QRA fighter
    presence in northern Norway,
    as a consequence of basing the
    entire F-35 fleet at Ørland and
    closing down Bodø air base. The
    relocation of 333 Skvadron will be a
    gradual process, with the P-3 fleet
    expected to wind down at Andøya
    while the P-8 fleet is building up
    at Evenes. Jan Jørgensen

Below: Andøya is a large base with plenty of dispersals, although 333 Skvadron is the only military

fl ying unit permanently based here. Located close to the town of Andenes, the air base shares its

runway with the small Andenes Airport. Jan Jørgensen

Top: Norwegian P-3C sensors include: AN/APS-137(V)5 search radar, AN/AAS-36 infrared detection system,

AN/AAR-47 missile approach warning system, AN/ALR-66 electronic support measures, AN/ASQ-81

magnetic anomaly detector, AN/USQ-78 acoustic processing and display system and active and passive

sonobuoys. Jan Jørgensen

AFM

ORBAT

Unit Aircraft Base

333 Skvadron P-3C/N Andøya

Inventory

Aircraft Number

P-3C Update III 4

P-3N 2

P-8A 5 on order

58 // FEBRUARY 2018 #359 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com

European MPAs Part 3

Fleet

Survey