The Norwegian government has submitted a formal request to Parliament seeking permission for the procurement of operational F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter (JSF) aircraft, the country’s defence minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen has revealed.
Valued at NOK12.9bn ($2.18bn), the request includes acquisition of six aircraft along with a broad range of additional equipment and services, including integration work, training and simulators, training and simulators.
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Erichsen said the request demonstrates the country’s ability to advance with F-35 procurement plans for replacement of its F-16 fleet from around 2020, which will eventually enhance the armed forces’ ability to address evolving challenges in future.
”It is important to note that even though we are announcing this plan now, the procurement of aircraft is still subject to annual approvals by the Norwegian parliament,” Erichsen added.
Requesting annual aircraft deliveries from 2017 to 2024, the plan accelerates Norway’s initial purchase by one year, but extends the overall timeframe for the acquisition of all 52 aircraft from four years to eight years.
An initial batch of four F-35A conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft ordered by the country for training of Norwegian personnel in the US, is scheduled to be delivered in two lots in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
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By GlobalDataThe request also calls for NOK3bn ($507.2m) of funding for uncertainty allowances.
Norway has also received assurances regarding the integration of the JSM missile in to the F-35 fighter during the development cycle during the recent Joint Executive Steering Board meeting of the JSF-programme.
”This is important to us mainly from an operational point of view – we need the JSM to fulfill our operational requirements,” Erichsen stressed.
Currently under production with Lockheed Martin, the F-35 Lightning II is designed to conduct ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defence missions with stealth capability.
Image: Norwegian defence minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen announcing the Government’s intention to acquire six F-35 fighters at the Gardermoen Aircraft Collection in Norway. Photo: Courtesy of Forsvarsdepartementet.
