North European Aerospace Test range
Encyclopedia
North European Aerospace Test range (NEAT) is Europe's largest overland test range for aerospace systems.
It is a co-operation by the Swedish Space Corporation
and Swedish Defence Materiel Administration
.
Its aim is to provide facilities and services for safe aerospace testing in one of the few parts of Europe which has very low population and almost no air-traffic.
, Esrange Space Center
outside Kiruna
and Vidsel Test Range
, that are combined with a bridging area in-between the two ranges.
areas.
There is also four additional restricted airspace areas over the bridging area that are only used when needed.
It is a co-operation by the Swedish Space Corporation
Swedish Space Corporation
The Swedish Space Corporation is a comprehensive space company covering the entire field, from the definition of innovative business concepts and space projects to the development, tests and operation of the systems....
and Swedish Defence Materiel Administration
Swedish Defence Materiel Administration
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration is a Swedish government agency that reports to the Ministry of Defence. The agency is responsible for the supply of materiel to the Swedish defence organisation. It is located in Stockholm.-External links:* - Official site...
.
Its aim is to provide facilities and services for safe aerospace testing in one of the few parts of Europe which has very low population and almost no air-traffic.
Physical attributes
NEAT consists of two ranges in northern SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Esrange Space Center
Esrange
Esrange Space Center is a rocket range and research centre located outside the town of Kiruna in northern Sweden. It is a base for scientific research with high altitude balloons, investigation of the aurora borealis, sounding rocket launches, and satellite tracking, among other things...
outside Kiruna
Kiruna
Kiruna is the northernmost city in Sweden, situated in Lapland province, with 18,154 inhabitants in 2005. It is the seat of Kiruna Municipality Kiruna (Northern Sami: Giron, Finnish: Kiiruna) is the northernmost city in Sweden, situated in Lapland province, with 18,154 inhabitants in 2005. It is...
and Vidsel Test Range
Vidsel Test Range
Vidsel Test Range is a Swedish strategic national test and evaluation asset operated by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration , a part of the Swedish Ministry of Defence.-Physical attributes:...
, that are combined with a bridging area in-between the two ranges.
Restricted airspace
NEAT has two permanently restricted airspaceRestricted airspace
Restricted airspace is an area of airspace in which the local controlling authorities have determined that air traffic must be restricted for safety or security concerns...
areas.
- R01 covers Esrange Space CenterEsrangeEsrange Space Center is a rocket range and research centre located outside the town of Kiruna in northern Sweden. It is a base for scientific research with high altitude balloons, investigation of the aurora borealis, sounding rocket launches, and satellite tracking, among other things...
and is 6,600 sq.km, GND/UNL altitude. - R02 covers Vidsel Test RangeVidselVidsel is a locality situated in Älvsbyn Municipality, Norrbotten County, Sweden with 569 inhabitants in 2005. It is situated about 900 km north of Stockholm, Sweden, in the Arctic Circle; Perhaps its earliest history is as a seasonal settlement, but permanent inhabitants have lived here since...
and is 7,200 sq.km, GND/UNL altitude.
There is also four additional restricted airspace areas over the bridging area that are only used when needed.
- Over the west part, GND/3500 MSL
- Over the west part, 3500 MSL/FL200A.k.a. "Tunnel in the sky"
- Over the whole area, 3500 MSL/FL330 in the west part and FL200/FL330 in the east part.Overflying the town of KirunaKirunaKiruna is the northernmost city in Sweden, situated in Lapland province, with 18,154 inhabitants in 2005. It is the seat of Kiruna Municipality Kiruna (Northern Sami: Giron, Finnish: Kiiruna) is the northernmost city in Sweden, situated in Lapland province, with 18,154 inhabitants in 2005. It is...
- Over the whole area, FL470/UNL