2017 to present

AgustaWestland AW101 SAR Queen
in
norway Luftforsvaret

Royal Norwegian Air Force







Luftforsvaret AW101 SAR Queen

In February 2007, the Norwegian Ministry of Justice announced that their option to buy 10 NH90 in the SAR version to replace the aging Sea King MK.43 would be allowed to lapse. Instead, they opened the NAWSARH ( Norwegian All Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter ) competition.

The finalists were the AW.101 and the EC225 while the Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk was eliminated. Other proposals, but not considered, included the V-22 Osprey and the HH-47 Chinook.

The AgustaWestland AW101 was chosen after the acquisition process started in October 2011, with tender documents released in July 2012. On November 2013 was announced as the Winner.

The contract, signed on 19 December 2013, includes 16 new SAR helicopters with an option for a further 6, and ensures that the Sea King will be phased out by the end of 2020.

First flight of the AW101-612 achieved March 21, 2016 by #0262. First delivered, #0268, handled over at Yeovil, UK on November 17, 2017 but suffered a ground accident at Sola a week later and needed to be returned to the UK for repairs. #0265 and #0270 followed in January 2018 and #0273 in March 2019.

SAR Queen, as is known, entered service from Sola on September 2020. Orland followed in May 2021 with the last base, Banak, planned for end of the year.

As of January 2023, 13 of 16 aW101s have been delivered serving from Sola, Orland, Banak, and Bodo bases.



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  Units


YearsUnitsBase
2020-    330 skvadron Floro
Rygge
Ørland
Stavanger - Sola Airport
Banak
Bodo





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