Norway and the United Kingdom Sign Helicopter Agreement

Norway and the United Kingdom have signed an agreement allowing British helicopters to be based on Norwegian naval and coast guard vessels. The agreement is part of the defence cooperation Lunna House and aims to ensure more effective integration in joint operations.

– The United Kingdom is one of our most important allies, and we have become increasingly integrated in several areas recently. This agreement allows British helicopters to embark on Norwegian naval and coast guard vessels and ensures effective integration in joint operations and exercises, says Rear Admiral Oliver Berdal, head of the Norwegian Navy.

According to a press release from the Norwegian Armed Forces, the agreement was signed by Oliver Berdal and the British naval chief, First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins. The cooperation builds on the defence agreement Lunna House that the countries entered into in December, which NDS reported on at the time. This agreement includes, among other things, closer integration between the countries' forces, joint procurement of frigates, and the development of autonomous systems.

Since the Norwegian Navy's vessels currently sail without their own helicopters, the agreement is described as an important step for their own defence capability. The now formalised cooperation is a direct continuation of the experiences from operation Highmast in 2025. At that time, the Norwegian frigate KNM Roald Amundsen was part of the British aircraft carrier group UK Carrier Strike Group 25 for eight months.

During the mentioned operation, a British Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron operated from the Norwegian frigate's helicopter deck, and the British personnel were integrated with the Norwegian crew. As a result of the new agreement, a British Wildcat helicopter with accompanying maintenance personnel is now stationed at the Norwegian naval base Haakonsvern, among other things, to participate in the exercise Cold Response 26.