Category: Defence

  • Cooperation agreement signed between Airbus and Andøya Space Defence

    Andøya Space Defence has signed a cooperation agreement with Airbus Defence and Space for live firing training support of Air Defenders: Army, Navy and Air Forces.

    Representatives from Andøya Space Defence and Airbus signing cooperation agreement
    Andøya Space Defence and Airbus signing cooperation agreement

    Airbus Direct Target UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) will be the choice for live firing training at the unique range of Andøya in North Norway.

    The ground support infrastructure for the Airbus Target System will be integrated in Andøya and its personnel will have the capability to operate the Airbus target drones on their own or together with Airbus resources.

    – Combining the unique capabilities of Airbus and Andøya, a turnkey solution is now available. This cooperation represents a higher capability for Air Defence training, based on our innovative Direct Target UAV platform. The cooperation is a role model for the support of the worldwide Air Defence Forces, says Frank Härtel, Head of Airbus Target Systems and Services.

    – As a part of the continuous development of the range services, Andøya Space Defence has been searching for a partner to support and provide the Aerial Target Systems. Our experience over the last years is that Airbus is an ideal partner for our expansion of the services. This cooperation will greatly improve our capabilities, says Gunnar Jan Olsen, President of Andøya Space Defence.

    Airbus Defence and Space Target Services

    The Target Systems and Services department of Airbus Defence and Space provides realistic support for Air Defenders in live firing exercises. For more than 22 years Direct Aerial Target drones are produced and the cost-effective service of realistic air threat is provided in training scenarios.

    Andøya Space Defence

    Andøya Space Defence is a versatile Test Range used for a variety of missions. Andøya Space Defence is the only advanced Test and Training Range in Norway for advanced testing and is in many respects unique in Nordic waters. The range is used on a regular basis for large exercises with multinational defence task forces.

    More information

    Please contact Gunnar Jan Olsen, President of Andøya Space Defence.

  • Tester VTOL-drone på Svalbard

    Andøya Space og Kystvakten reiser i disse dager til Svalbard for å gjennomføre en praktisk test av avanserte droner i arktiske farvann.

    VTOL er en engelsk forkortelse for «Vertical Take-off and Landing» og er en betegnelse på luftfartøy som kan lette og lande som et helikopter. Fordelen er at de blir så mobile at de relativt enkelt kan benyttes fra skip.

    – VTOL-droner er fysisk mindre enn bemannede helikoptre, men slipper unna strenge krav om hviletid for mannskapet, siden de er ubemannede, sier Børje Edvardsen som er prosjektleder for prosjektet «VTOL UAS in Arktis 2030». – De kan også fly under forhold hvor man vegrer seg for å sende ut helikoptre med folk om bord. Målet med å bruke slike droner er ikke å erstatte helikoptre, men å supplere og styrke beredskapen ved søk og redning i våre enorme havområder.

    Bilde av VTOL-drone

    Andøy kommune er oppdragsgiver for prosjektet, som allerede har gjennomført de første testene fra Kystvaktskip i Andfjorden.

    – Vi ser at det ligger et stort potensial i slike droner, sier Jonni Helge Solsvik, representant for Andøy kommune. – Fiskeri er en stor næring for Andøy og vi ønsker å styrke Norges evne til å gjennomføre søk og redning i norske farvann, samt være i front på generell havovervåkning.

    – Dronene har mange bruksområder som for eksempel miljøovervåkning, søk- og redning, kartlegging av fauna, toll- og fiskerioppsyn. Andøy kommune ønsker å legge til rette for utvikling av nye kapasiteter som kan styrke beredskapen i nord, sier Solsvik.

    Mannskapene som reiser opp til Svalbard skal gjennomføre tokt fra KV Nordkapp.

    Bilde av VTOL-drone ombord på skipet det skal fly ut fra

    – Vi ønsker å vise gevinstene og mulighetene ved å bruke avanserte droner i Arktis, sier Edvardsen. – Prosjektet skal demonstrere nye konsepter og bruksområder ved hjelp av avansert sensorteknologi om bord i dronen.

    Prosjektet er muliggjort gjennom «Arktis 2030», en tilskuddsordning fra Utenriksdepartementet som har som mål å ivareta norske interesser i nordområdene. Andre deltakere er Andøya Space, Kystvakten, Kystverket, Hovedredningssentralen og Nord Universitet.

    Den konkrete dronen som skal testes på Svalbard er en Schiebel S-100, produsert i Østerrike. Med en rekkevidde på 180 kilometer og topphastighet på over 200 kilometer i timen er den godt egnet for den krevende oppgaven.

    – Dronen S-100 kan holde seg i lufta i seks timer på én tank og kan bære med seg flere typer sensorer og nyttelaster, sier Edvardsen. – Dronetypen har vært på Andøya flere ganger allerede og vi er godt kjent med hvilken kapasitet den representerer.

    Mer informasjon

    Kontakt Andøya Space Defence.

  • New names: Andøya Space Education and Andøya Space Defence

    To clarify who we are and what we do, we are renaming the subsidiaries NAROM and Andøya Test Center (ATC). The new names Andøya Space Education and Andøya Space Defence highlights their areas of expertise and their connection to the Andøya Space brand.

    Andøya Space Education

    Andøya Space Education represents the educational part of Andøya Space. Thousands of people are every year inspired by the educational programs we offer, and our visitor center attracts both space-interested pupils as well as tourists.

    Formerly known as NAROM, Andøya Space Education was established twenty years ago to increase recruitment to science, technology and Norwegian space activities. Although the name has been changed, we will continue as a national center to inspire and educate the next generation of scientists and engineers with mandate and funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.

    Andøya Space Defence

    In 1997 a test center was established in connection to the sounding rocket launch site at Andøya. The area surrounding the island, and the already established technical infrastructure, enables Andøya Space Defence to perform complex tests of weapon systems.

    Andøya Space Defence will continue to offer a state-of-the-art civilian test range for military capabilities.

    The brand

    Andøya Space is leading in its field both when it comes to testing, drones, sounding rockets and space-related education. Our logo is a stamp of quality, and we will continue to deliver quality services within technology, testing and knowledge in many years to come.

    Mer informasjon

    Kontakt Andøya Space.

  • Boeing, Andøya Space Partner to Expand Norwegian, NATO Testing

    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.
    Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense and @BoeingSpace.

    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