Norway retires the Falcon 20ECM

On 30 September 2022, the Luftforsvaret (RNoAF, Royal Norwegian Air Force) officially retired the two Falcon 20ECM (Electronic CounterMeasures) aircraft used by FEKS/717 skvradon after almost fifty years in service.

The two Falcons have reached more than 25,000 flight hours each, whilst flying missions all over the world. The Falcon is originally a French-built twin-engine medium-sized jet-powered business aircraft. Since 20 December 1972, Norway has used the Falcon for information gathering, electronic warfare and transport.

For a long period of time, the aircraft have engaged in self-training or support and training of their own units, air defence and operational collection missions. The new maritime surveillance and anti-submarine aircraft P-8A Poseidon and the multi-role combat aircraft F-35A Lightning II will take over several of the tasks of the two ECM Falcons.

The two aircraft, serial 041 Hugin and 053 Munin, were bought in December 1972 and were outfitted at Montreal (Canada) for ECM duties in 1975. The aircraft were first operated by 335 skvadron/B-Flight until early 1995, after which they were transferred to FEKS/717 skvadron at Oslo-Gardermoen. The unit will officially disband in 2024.

Originally, the Falcon 20 fleet consisted of three aircraft. In 2018, Falcon 20C-5 with serial 0125 was phased out. This Falcon had a history of VIP transport and calibration of military navigation and approach aids and radar systems. It is now stored at Rygge air base. Most probably, the two ECM Falcons will initially also be stored at Rygge. Maybe one of them will be preserved.

Photo by Peder Mathisen