Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) · Norrbotten, Sweden (NEAT — North European Aerospace Test range), Sweden
Launch Pads
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Annual Launches
Multiple test campaigns/year (classified)
Max Payload (LEO)
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Established
1957
Vidsel Test Range (RFN — Robotforsoksplats Norrland) in Norrbotten, Sweden, is Europe's largest overland weapons and missile test range, covering ~1,650 km^2 of restricted airspace and ground territory. Operated by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and marketed internationally as part of NEAT (North European Aerospace Test range), it primarily hosts suborbital missile and munitions testing for European NATO members. Long-term plans envision expanding capabilities to support space launch operations, leveraging synergies with the nearby Esrange Space Center.
| Region | Europe |
| Country | 🇸🇪 Sweden |
| Coordinates | 65.7800° N, 20.0000° E |
| Ownership | Military |
| Parent Entity | Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) — Swedish Ministry of Defence |
| Regulatory Regime | Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) + Swedish Ministry of Defence; coordinated airspace closures with EU/EASA |
| Latitude Advantage | 65.8 deg N — high-latitude site; latitude is incidental (the range is configured for ground-impact missile testing, not orbital injection), but proximity to Esrange enables shared logistics for future space-launch expansion |
| Website | https://www.fmv.se |
Active Users
Strategic Value
Adjacent capability to Esrange — if Sweden expands sovereign launch ambition, Vidsel offers complementary overland recovery zones unavailable elsewhere in NATO Europe. Today purely a defence asset; long-term option value for space-launch synergy.
Recent Activity
Continued European NATO missile qualification campaigns through 2024-2025; FMV announced 2025 feasibility study with SSC for cross-range space-launch synergies with Esrange.
2027
Completion of FMV-SSC Vidsel-Esrange space-launch synergy feasibility study