SAS extends Medevac partnership with the Norwegian Armed Forces

SAS and the Norwegian Armed Forces have renewed their long-standing Medevac partnership through 2027, strengthening a civil–military collaboration that has become a vital part of Europe’s medical evacuation capacity. The extension approved by the Norwegian Government, ensures continued access to a highly specialized airborne medical service that has supported the transport of thousands of wounded and critically ill patients from the war in Ukraine.

The renewed agreement with Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency formalizes SAS’ continued role in providing dedicated Medevac capability for international missions coordinated by Norwegian and European authorities. The operation relies on close cooperation between SAS flight crews trained for complex medical evacuations and specially trained medical personnel from the Norwegian Armed Forces Medical Services (NAFMS) who is leading the missions. This enabling rapid and safe transport of patients in need of advanced care.

“This mission has shaped SAS in a profound way. Operating an aircraft with this level of medical capability and readiness requires a combination of experience, precision and trust that is rare in commercial aviation. Our crews bring an extraordinary sense of purpose to these flights, knowing that every mission directly impacts lives in a way few other operations do. We are deeply grateful for the confidence placed in SAS to carry out work of this nature, and immensely proud of the professionalism and humanity our teams demonstrate every time they step into this role,” says Anko van der Werff, President & CEO, SAS.

At the core of the operation is a specially configured Boeing 737 equipped with beds, intensive care capacity and specialized medical infrastructure. The aircraft can be rapidly adapted for different mission types and is maintained in close cooperation with the Norwegian Armed Forces to ensure continuous readiness.

A track record of precision, readiness and compassion

Over the past three years, this capability has played a central role in transporting thousands of wounded and critically ill Ukrainian patients from Poland to hospitals across Europe. The missions form part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and demonstrate the value of combining civilian aviation expertise with military medical competence.

In May last year, SAS employees and personnel from NAFMS — including medical personnel, pilots, cabin crew, flight coordinators and engineers — were awarded the Norwegian Armed Forces Medal for International Operations for their contributions to these missions. The recognition highlighted both the operational complexity and the professionalism required to carry out this work.

 “Building on the strong and successful partnership with SAS, Norwegian Armed Forces Medical Services is pleased to continue providing essential support to Ukraine and EU. This is also an excellent example of civil-military cooperation, which simultaneously strengthens our own health preparedness,” says the Norwegian Surgeon General, Brigadier General Petter Iversen.

The extension of the agreement reinforces the long-standing collaboration between SAS, the Norwegian Armed Forces and European partners involved in medical evacuation efforts, ensuring that this unique capability remains available for as long as it is needed.

“I am glad that companies like SAS are supporting our collective efforts to aid the Ukrainian resistance. This is a total defense collaboration in which the Armed Forces, the health sector, the justice sector, and the business community, through SAS, all contribute,” says Minister of Health and Care Services, Jan Christian Vestre.