Boeing, Andøya Space Partner to Expand Norwegian, NATO Testing

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Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the Andøya Space are forming a new partnership that will support Norway’s plan to become a leading autonomous aircraft test center and establish the first dedicated spaceport for launching satellites in Europe.

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) aims to expand the capability of the Andøya Space to conduct complex testing and experimentation for the Norwegian Armed Forces and NATO. The agreement will also expand the capability of the Andøya Space to provide affordable medium-launch services to new government and commercial customers throughout Europe.

– This partnership will help Norwegian industry advance indigenous capabilities to accelerate growth in autonomous aerial systems and space launches, said Maria Laine, Boeing vice president of International Strategic Partnerships. – The scale, scope and strategic value of our collaboration opportunities, like this one with the Andøya Space, reinforces our strategic partnership with Norway and demonstrates our commitment to keeping the promises we make.

Located on the island of Andoya in northern Norway, 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, the Andoya Space is well suited for arctic testing of advanced technological systems, launched from air, sea or land. First established nearly 60 years ago, the test center is equipped with the latest of telemetry and tracking systems.

Under the new agreement with Boeing, the test center will be expanded through the acquisition of new test bed aircraft and deployment of the Integrated Remote Sensing for the Arctic (IRSA) network. The network includes an embedded command and control system provided as a technical transfer from Boeing. The IRSA network will connect the Andoya Space to dedicated test sites in countries across the Arctic.

– To partner with Boeing with a special focus on advanced testing and autonomous aerial systems is a major step towards our strategic goals. This agreement will greatly improve our capabilities through the acquisition of aerial platforms for test and development activities, said Gunnar Jan Olsen, CEO of Andøya Space Defence, subsidiary of Andøya Space.

The new agreement with Andøya Space will support Boeing’s tailored industrial participation plan related to the acquisition of five P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft by the Norwegian Armed Forces in 2017.

About Boeing

For more information on Defense, Space & Security, visit www.boeing.com.
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About Andøya Space

Andøya Space is a limited company, owned 90% by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry and Fisheries and 10% by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. For more information, visit www.andoyaspace.no

Contact:

Steve Lott
Boeing Communications
Office: +1 703-465-3885
Mobile: +1 202-285-9590
steven.e.lott@boeing.com

Gunnar Jan Olsen
Andoya Space Defence
Office: +47 76 14 44 00
Mobile: +47 930 51680
atc@testcenter.no