The Norwegian Air Force has operationalized its first specialized launcher designed to neutralize hostile unmanned aerial systems. Located at the primary main air station for F-35 fighter jets at Ørland, the new Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) technology significantly boosts national airspace defense capabilities.
The deployment follows increased security concerns and observations near military installations and critical infrastructure, as reported by NRK. According to Master Sergeant Sondre Steinsvik, system manager for the anti-drone unit at Ørland, the newly delivered setup provides a vastly enhanced capability for drone defense through modern sensors, radars, and effectors.
The defensive architecture relies on a combination of detection tools and effectors capable of executing both “soft-kill” and “hard-kill” measures. Lars Peder Haga, associate professor at the Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy, notes that the threat from small, easily procurable drones has become highly realistic, posing significant risks to vulnerable and high-value assets parked in the open.
Efforts to reinforce base defense have also led to the establishment of a dedicated drone troop at the air station. Personnel will operate UAVs for search operations, area mapping, explosive payload deployment, and counter-drone intercept missions, adopting combat-proven tactics observed in Ukraine.
Defense authorities confirm that the C-UAS framework will gradually expand to other strategic military locations across Norway, including the Evenes air station, supported by a broader long-term defense plan scaling up investments in autonomous technology and electronic warfare.
