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Norway To Purchase Four F-35s
HELSINKI - Norway will proceed with the purchase of four F-35 Joint Strike Fighter combat aircraft, with delivery slated in 2016.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) has calculated the acquisition value, which includes logistical support and operations costs in the aircraft's initial years, at $744 million.
The initial batch of four F-35s will be used for instructor and operational pilot training by the Norwegian Air Force. Most of the training will take place in the United States. Norway plans to acquire between 48 and 56 F-35s under an agreement reached with Lockheed Martin in November 2008. The bulk of the order will be delivered from 2018 to 2022.
A formal order for the four aircraft will be placed once a request for funding is sanctioned by the government and approved by the Stortinget, Norway's national parliament. It is expected that final approval for the purchase will take place before the parliament breaks for summer recess in June.
"The acquisition of the four fighters is an important step to maintain a satisfactory operational combat aircraft capacity in the transition phase between the F-16 and F-35," said Defense Minister Grete Faremo.
The cost outlook for Norway's total procurement has changed little despite restructuring costs and delays in the U.S. F-35 development program, the MoD said in a statement.
"As part of the basis for the procurement of four F-35 fighter aircraft for training purposes, we have also conducted an update regarding costs for the entire acquisition," the statement said.
According to the MoD's revised estimate, the total purchase price for 56 F-35 fighters will increase by $183 million, or some 2.5 percent over the original cost estimate in 2008. The purchase cost for the four training aircraft includes $186 million in logistics and operations costs, as well as contingency costs amounting to $62 million.
Overall, the acquisition of 56 F-35s, including weapons, logistics, support, training, infrastructure and equipment is estimated at about $8 billion. Because of the early delivery, Norway will pay marginally more for the first batch of F-35s. The flyaway unit cost of to Norway will be $49.6 million.
Norway To Purchase Four F-35s - Defense News
