Norway Receives Its Full F-35 Order
The veteran NATO member is now the first F-35 partner nation to fulfill its program of record; Norway has received its desired fifty-two F35s from Lockheed Martin.
Even as some U.S. partners may be reconsidering the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II acquisition, Norway is fully committed, partly as it has received delivery of its 51st and 52nd fifth-generation aircraft. The NATO member is now “the first F-35 partner nation to fulfill its program of record,” the aerospace firm and the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) announced Tuesday.
It has been seventeen years in the making, as Oslo first announced it had selected the F-35A, the conventional takeoff and landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, in 2008. Its first Lightning II made its maiden flight in 2015, while the first F-35 landed at Ørland Air Base.
“The F-35 is the world’s best fighter jet, and I am very pleased that we will receive the last of the fifty-two fighter jets from Lockheed Martin that Norway ordered,” announced Tore O. Sandvik, Norwegian Minister of Defence.
“The aircraft ensure that we can safeguard Norwegian sovereignty and maintain even better control over our areas on land, at sea, and in the air.”
Oslo received three F-35s just last month, highlighting Lockheed Martin’s increased production of the advanced aircraft.
A Nordic Variant of the F-35A
The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) will now operate fifty-two multirole stealth fighters with a unique modification, a drag chute.
According to the JPO, the chute is “a small, aerodynamic pod housed on the upper surface between the canted vertical stabilizers” while “designed as a wing pylon so that the pod can be installed and removed with minimal time and effort.” The system has been employed on Belgian, Danish, and Dutch F-35As.
It was designed to rapidly decelerate the F-35, which was required due to the Nordic country’s short, icy runways. It minimized any effect on the radar cross-section and allowed the aircraft to maintain its stealth capabilities.
“Norway’s F-35 fleet enhances interoperability across the Norwegian Armed Forces’ defense systems, improving situational awareness of the entire force and strengthening transatlantic security,” stated Chauncey McIntosh, vice president and general manager of the F-35 program at Lockheed Martin.
“We are honored to build upon our more than fifty-year partnership with Norway, ensuring the Royal Norwegian Air Force remains ahead of emerging threats to protect security for Norway and its allies for decades to come.”
The State of Norway’s Airforce
The RNoAF reached initial operating capability (IOC) with the F-35A in 2019 and conducted the first NATO Air Policing mission with the Lightning II in 2020. It is the sixth aircraft produced by Lockheed Martin to be operated by the RNoAF and will continue to be employed to protect Norway’s and NATO’s interests in Europe and the Arctic.
“The F-35 is a powerful tool for strategic deterrence, enhancing alliance-based security and discouraging potential aggression,” said RNAF Col Egil Soerstroenen, the F-35 JPO Norway National Deputy.
“Receiving all our fifty-two F-35 aircraft thus represents a huge milestone for Norway. We highly value the solid and successful partnership with government and industry in the F-35 program, and we will continue to evolve Norway’s F-35 capability in strong cooperation with the other F-35 partner nations.”
The Partnership Between Norway and America: Unimpeded
Though the Trump administration has signaled to its European NATO partners that the U.S. may downplay its role in the region, it was reported last month that Washington will continue to support the expansion of military facilities in the Nordic country where F-35s are stored.
U.S. forces will retain “unimpeded” access to a dozen areas in Norway, including the Evenes and Sola air stations, from which the F-35s operate. That will enhance the RNoAF’s capabilities.
“The F-35 is a fundamental capability for Norway and the Norwegian Armed Forces,” added Soerstroenen.
“The F-35 program’s cooperative nature expands our partnership with key allies, enabling us to support the critical mission of maintaining control of our area on NATO’s northern flank. The F-35’s ability to operate nearly autonomously in a contested environment makes it a truly remarkable weapon platform.”
Last June, Norway reactivated the Bardufoss Air Station, a mountain base with hangars inside a mountain, to house the RNoAF’s F-35A Lightning II fighters. The facility’s upgrades could increase Norwegian and NATO fighter activity in Northern Norway and the Arctic.
Russia has been increasingly focused on expanding its presence in the region.
It was announced in January that F-35s based at Ørland Air Station became the first fifth-generation stealth fighter to employ a specialty fuel blend that contained 40 percent biofuel. That could reduce dependence on traditional supply chains and produce a “greener” fuel.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock/ MyPlanePics.