Air Greenland has signed the Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) agreement with the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation, establishing a civil aviation solution to support surveillance, inspection and transport operations in Greenland, the Arctic and the North Atlantic.

The Representation of Greenland at Nordatlantens Brygge in Copenhagen hosted a series of signing ceremonies on 3 July 2026. First, Greenland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Múte B. Egede, and Denmark's Minister of Defence, Jeppe Bruus, signed a declaration of intent to prioritize opportunities for strengthened cooperation between the Danish Defence and Greenlandic stakeholders. This was followed by the signing of the MDA agreement between the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) and Air Greenland, as well as the agreement between Air Greenland and PAL Aerospace.

The MDA agreement was signed by Jacob Nitter Sørensen, Chief Executive Officer of the Air Greenland Group, and Lieutenant General Per Pugholm Olsen, Director of the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation.

“We are proud of the trust placed in Air Greenland, and we have had a constructive and professional collaboration with the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation throughout this process. The MDA agreement demonstrates how civil aviation capabilities can contribute to important societal responsibilities and builds on our extensive experience operating in the Arctic,” says Jacob Nitter Sørensen, Chief Executive Officer of the Air Greenland Group.

The ink on the MDA agreement was barely dry before Air Greenland signed an agreement with PAL Aerospace, which will be responsible for the modification and configuration of the aircraft. PAL Aerospace brings extensive international experience in maritime surveillance aircraft and special mission solutions based on the Dash 8 platform.

“The agreement with PAL Aerospace marks an important step from signature to implementation. We are gaining an experienced partner with proven expertise in special mission solutions on the Dash 8 platform, helping us prepare the aircraft for the upcoming MDA mission,” says Jacob Nitter Sørensen.

Work can now begin. The aircraft will be fitted with sensors and mission equipment specified by the Danish Defence and subsequently become part of the future MDA solution.

Over the coming years, the project will involve design, modification, mission system integration, certification, training and the development of the organizational capabilities required to deliver the service.

The MDA mission forms part of the Arctic Capability Package of 2021 and Sub-Agreement 1 on the Arctic and North Atlantic under Denmark's 2024–2033 Defence Agreement, which aims to strengthen preparedness, surveillance and defence presence across the region.

For Air Greenland, the MDA mission also marks the beginning of a new business area that has been under development for several years and accelerated as part of the company's strategic ambitions. With a strong local presence, extensive Arctic operational experience and specialized aviation and preparedness capabilities, Air Greenland is well positioned to deliver a solution tailored to both Defence requirements and Greenlandic conditions. The project is also expected to contribute to local employment opportunities and the development of specialized expertise in Greenland.

“The process has been a long one, and several Greenlandic governments have worked over the years to ensure that more tasks can be performed and anchored locally. As Greenland's new airport infrastructure comes into operation, Dash 8 capacity is becoming available for new societal missions. This achievement has required significant effort from many stakeholders, including teams across Air Greenland, and we now look forward to seeing the aircraft, crews and new capabilities take shape,” says Jacob Nitter Sørensen.