Eric M. Johnson

SEATTLE (Reuters – Norway is poised to receive the first five Boeing (NYSE) Co P-8 Patrol aircraft on Thursday. This was as NATO ally Norway seeks to increase its submarine hunting capability in strategically critical High North.

These five P-8As will take over the six current Royal Norwegian Air Force aircraft. Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE 🙂 has two Dassault Aviation DA-20 Jet Falcons as well as P-3 Orions. They can be operated from Evenes Air Station in the Arctic Circle.

“Norway is responsible for large maritime areas in a strategically important part of the world,” Mette Sørfonden, director general of the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, said in prepared remarks ahead of the delivery ceremony later on Thursday in Seattle.

“Today’s delivery of our first P-8A is an important milestone in the modernization of Norway’s maritime patrol aircraft capability,” Sørfonden said.

Boeing says the delivery is a reminder of how important its defense business is as the U.S. planemaker tries to recuperate billions from the safety crisis involving the overlapping coronavirus, 737 MAX and other incidents.

Boeing’s 737-8800 Next Generation Commercial Jetliner is used to create the P-8 anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare and surveillance and reconnaissance P-8.

Boeing stated that the delivery of the P-8 to Norway is the 142nd P-8 to be delivered to customers, which include the U.S Navy, Royal Australian Air Force and Indian Navy.

According to Boeing, deliveries will be made to New Zealand and Korea in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and then again in 2024 and 2024.

Boeing announced that four of the P-8 remaining for Norway are still in their advanced production stages and would be available in 2022.

Norway and other European nations recognize the importance of sub-hunting to help support NATO missions as the Arctic Ocean becomes more navigable and the ice caps are receding.

The defense ministry of Norway has invested in new technologies, including the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter plane. Norwegians are willing to acquire 52 stealthy fighter jets.

Finland, Norway and Russia’s next-door neighbor, is considering entering a contest for fighter jets. It includes F-35s and Boeing’s EA-18 Super Hornet and F-35.

Germany’s Defense Ministry announced in June that it was buying five Boeing P-8A aircraft for 1.1 billion Euros ($1.31 billion).