UAS Solutions for Arctic Conditions Under Development

By Mike Ball / 08 Jun 2021
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Insitu ScanEagle UAS

Insitu has partnered with Robot Aviation and Andøya Space to develop the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) ecosystem in the Arctic and High North. The companies plan to offer products and services optimized for the harsh environments north of the Arctic Circle where many North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) allies routinely operate.

The Insitu ScanEagle UAS has flown more than 1.3 million hours in extremely challenging conditions around the world. The partnership with the two Norwegian companies will synergize each company’s capabilities and experience to offer solutions for both the defense and commercial sectors.

The alliance will also seek to collaborate with other like-minded companies, research institutions and academic organizations that can add value to the economy in North Norway.

Gunnar Jan Olsen, President of Andøya Space Defence, commented: “This alliance brings together the best from both Norway and the US. Andøya Space has a sixty-year heritage of space, defence and UAS operations in the High North, and the cooperation with Robot Aviation and Insitu will help build and strengthen the Norwegian UAS community.”

Niklas Nyroth, CEO of Robot Aviation, stated: “This alliance strengthens our presence and commitment to existing and future customers, it enhances our ability to support the growing community of UAS users in the Arctic region.”

Dave Funkhouser, Insitu’s Global Growth Executive for Northern Europe, said: “Our alliance with Andøya Space and Robot Aviation is about growing a sustainable UAS value chain. We aspire to service the Arctic and High North by promoting cooperation between the commercial, defense and academic sectors across the region.”

Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact