NORDSEC Nordic Defence and Security Cluster welcomes NORLink Aviation as a new member, bringing a purpose-built approach to dual-use aviation logistics tailored for distributed operations and remote environments.

NORLink Aviation positions itself as a dedicated provider for operations beyond the main aviation hubs, in the regions and sectors central to the country’s Total Defence Concept. The company aims to bridge the gap between commercial efficiency and national resilience through a modular and scalable service model.

“Our ambition is to build the Nordic region’s leading dual-use aviation logistics platform — one that combines commercial efficiency with national resilience,” says Paul Addington.

With Sweden and Finland now part of NATO, the Nordic region has effectively become a more integrated strategic market. At the same time, aviation logistics remain constrained by fixed corridors, limited aircraft availability for remote operations, and providers that struggle to transition between civilian and defence requirements.

“This creates a clear operational and commercial gap. We are developing a model that can operate flexibly across both domains and support distributed logistics needs as they evolve,” Addington explains.

Paul Addington, NORLink Aviation. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Addressing logistics gaps in remote areas

NORLink Aviation is developing a logistics capability designed to move both people and high-value cargo between central hubs and remote areas where conventional transport options are limited.

“We are building a capability that does not really exist today. The idea is to close a gap in the market by moving time-sensitive or valuable resources from more central locations to sparsely populated and remote regions,” says Øyvinn Lossius of NORLink Aviation.

The company ultimately aims to manage the entire logistics process, from identifying customer needs to completed delivery.

“We want to take responsibility for the whole process, from the moment a customer reports a requirement until it has been delivered,” Lossius says.

NORLink Aviation’s model is built around three core components: long-term service agreements with defence and public-sector partners, ad-hoc commercial and humanitarian operations, and a digital interface for mission planning and asset tracking, currently in development.

The company sees broad applicability across sectors including defence, energy, seafood, maritime operations, and high-end tourism, all of which depend on reliable access to remote locations.

Paul Addington, NORLink Aviation. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Preparing for operational testing

The company is also preparing to test parts of its operational model with an initial aircraft platform.

“We already have an aircraft concept that allows us to begin testing parts of the market and selected services, although it will still take time before we have a full fleet in operation,” says Lossius.

Planning for the next generation of platforms

Looking further ahead, NORLink Aviation is also planning for alternative propulsion and uncrewed systems as part of its fleet roadmap.

“Our planning fleet is conventional, because that is what can be certified and contracted today. Behind it, we are working on a staged basis towards zero-emission propulsion, whether battery-electric or hydrogen fuel-cell, selected platform by platform as the technology and the certification framework mature. The same logic applies to uncrewed aircraft systems. We see UAS as an operational layer that sits on top of a certified crewed operation, not as a replacement for it, and we are building the organisation so that uncrewed capability for cargo and remote-area resupply can be added as the regulatory framework allows,” says Addington.

Collaboration through NORDSEC

“We are focusing on building a robust network of partners and refining our operational concepts,” says Addington.

Through its membership in NORDSEC, NORLink Aviation aims to strengthen collaboration with industry peers and increase its understanding of evolving market needs.

“Being part of NORDSEC provides an important arena for cooperation. It helps us both raise awareness of our modular aviation model and better understand demand across the defence and security landscape,” Addington adds.