Norway: F-35A purchase delayed; first contract proposal

The Norwegian government is again a step closer in their plans to acquire the F-35 by proposing the Parliament to confirm the purchase of an initial batch of four F-35 jets in 2016. Based on new U.S. cost data the overall cost has increased about 10%.

The government’s proposal of April 6, 2011 needs to be approved by Parliament, is in line with the earlier decision of December 2008 to procure the F-35 for its F-16 replacement.

Minister Grete Faremo said to the Norwegian Aftenposten “Acquisition of the four planes is an important step to maintain a satisfactory operational combat aircraft capacity in the transition phase between the F-16 and F-35″.

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