Norway Moves Ahead with F-35A

摘要

A formal request to the Norwegian Parliament for authorisation to procure the first six operational Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters for delivery to the Royal Norwegian Air Force in 2017 was submitted on April 26. This follows the government's revised plans, approved in June 2012, to stretch out its procurement of the F-35 over two more years, but to accelerate its initial purchase by one year. Under the latest plans Norway should be able to replace its F-16 fleet by around 2020, receiving six F-35As annually from 2017 to 2024. This is in addition to four aircraft for training purposes, which have already been ordered and will remain in the US when they are handed over in 2015 and 2016.