Norway Extends SAS–Norwegian Armed Forces Medevac Deal Through 2027

Overview

• Norwegian authorities extended the SAS–Armed Forces medical evacuation agreement Friday, keeping a dedicated Boeing 737 on standby through 2027 after formal approval and contracting with the Defence Materiel Agency.
• The 737-700 is a modular flying hospital with 18 beds, three intensive care stations, and 39 seats, allowing crews to tailor the cabin to each patient load.
• Missions run under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, moving wounded and critically ill patients—often routed via hubs in Poland—to hospitals across Europe.
• Government figures show Norway’s weekly evacuation flights since August 2022 have carried out nearly 200 operations and moved 2,850 patients, including 512 treated at Norwegian hospitals.
• SAS pilots and cabin crew fly while Norwegian military medical teams provide care, a model leaders say boosts national health readiness and delivers ICU-level treatment during transport.