Norway chooses American fighter plane over Swedish competitor

Dagbladet ^ | November 20th, 2008 | KRISTOFFER EGEBERG

[Eurotwit]

The Norwegian government has decided to replace the aging fleet of F-16's with American F-35 fighters, according to a press release from the Prime Ministers office.

JSF is assessed to be better than the Gripen within all the main tasks:

- Intelligence gathering and surveillance. - air to air combat - air to ground and sea surface

[Eurotwit]

This is a major breaking news story over here at the moment. The government will hold a press conference in half an hour.

Is it a good choice? I have heard there might be trouble with the program. Even that Obama might cancel it...

Anyhow, I am in principle happy we are buying American, and not Swedish :-)

[radiohead]

I don’t know enough to comment on the quality of the plane, but considering how my Norwegian and Danish friends make fun of the Swedes, I’m not surprised the Norwegians bought American. : )

[Frantzie]

Swedes make some nice fighters. I doubt Obama will cancel it but who knows. I am sure it is a pretty good plane but the Russkis’ have some pretty nice fighters too.

Norway is a good friend and ally. One of my best friends is Norge-American. He is a very funny guy.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

There’s a Swedish fighter?

[rom]

Saab?

[jveritas]

Are they seriously comparing the Swedish fighter jet to the F-35? The F-35 is a decade ahead of any other fighter plane in the world with the exception of the F-22.

[CougarGA7]

Smart choice. The Gripen was developed in the late 80s as a replacement for the Viggen. Not really a new bird and doesn’t have near the capabilities of the F-35 IMHO.

[Islander7]

If you like the F-16, you'll love the F-35 Lightning II.

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Lightning II

JSF is a joint, multinational acquisition program for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and eight cooperative international partners. Expected to be the largest military aircraft procurement ever, the stealth, supersonic F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (F-35) will replace a wide range of aging fighter and strike aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied defense forces worldwide. The program’s hallmark is affordability achieved through a high degree of aircraft commonality among three variants: conventional takeoff/landing (CTOL), carrier variant (CV) and short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft. Innovative concepts and advanced technologies will significantly reduce weapon system life-cycle costs while meeting the strike weapon system requirements of military customers. Procurement is planned to continue through 2026 and possibly beyond. JSF aircraft may well stay in service until 2060 or longer.



--------- snip

[Eurotwit]

I am slightly surprised that the socialist left party who is part of the government coalition is going along with this.

I said, in jest before the election that one positive of an Obama victory would be that it would make it more likely that we would go for the American option.

I don’t know too much of the technical capabilities and such, but I know that the Norwegian air force itself have been fighting for the American option.

This is a rather huge expenditure, so off course there has also been much discussion of industrial implication etc.

With Russia flexing its muscles in the arctic again, I guess intercepting Russian planes approaching our air space will be an important role.

[MarineBrat]

The JSF is one year away from full production. The big money has already been spent and it’s time to reap the benefits. Braaak would never cancel it.

[Eurotwit]

Initially the JSF, the Swedish Gripen, the Eurofighter and the French Rafale were all considered.

[gridlock]

F35 vs. Gripen?

No contest!

[gridlock]

Gripen

No Stealth to speak of. Look at all those external weapons and stores. Look at the canard.
The thing probably has a radar return as big as a (steel) house!

[ProudNorseman]

Does anyone know why NATO allies aren't trusted with the F-22? I'm not convinced by the JSF's capabilities when used without the F-2 in a defensive role. It's the station wagon of the air.

The Raptor would probably have been perfect for us.

[Islander7]

“...The thing probably has a radar return as big as a (steel) house!...”

Yeah, but it is a cool looking machine.

;-)

[rahbert]

We are afraid of spies learning about its details
and especially reverse engineering its software.

[skeeter]

I’ll have to poll my relatives in Hagen Sortland for their opinion.

[CommerceComet]

F35 vs. Gripen? No contest!

Okay but I'll take the Swedes when it comes to chainsaws!!

Husqvarna or Stihl >> any American chainsaw.

[llevrok]

Swedish fighter????

Isn't that a contradiction of terms?

-llevrok, son of a Dane

[GBA]

There is an F-35?? Is it in service? Will it ever be in service? By the time it gets to service, assuming it actually does, will it be so heavy then that it no longer meets any of its performance goals?

[Dubh_Ghlase]

I married a Viking (capital "V"). They are a great people, and not to be trifled with. If they have any choice for anything other than Swedish, they'll take it. One big insult for a Norwegian is to say: "You've made a Swede of yourself!".

If I had to move out of the US, Norway would be one of my top picks...

But I never have warmed up to lutefisk...

[tophat9000]

There’s a Swedish fighter?

Saab has been a MAJOR player in the fighter/attack aircraft market since the end on WW2.. very good planes

[tophat9000]

Swedish fighter???? Isn't that a contradiction of terms? -llevrok, son of a Dane

Swedish Saab 35 "Drakens" of the Royal Danish Air Force

[Mr Inviso]

“There is an F-35?? Is it in service? Will it ever be in service? By the time it gets to service, assuming it actually does, will it be so heavy then that it no longer meets any of its performance goals?”

The tendency toward weight gain was reversed in the F-35 program by the folks at Lockheed-Martin giving money rewards to any and all employees who submitted workable tips to reduce the weight back under what the specs required. They actually found more than they needed. Funny how that worked.

[VaBthang4]

"Does anyone know why NATO allies aren't trusted with the F-22?"

Is that a serious question?

[Citizen Blade]

The Grippen- it’s a quality fighter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grippen

[ProudNorseman]

More serious than your reply.

[Citizen Blade]

F35 vs. Gripen?

There's the question of cost. The F-35 comes in at 115 million. The Grippen comes in at about 70 million. There's also the question of operating costs- the F-35 is sure to cost more to run than a less-advanced fighter.

Frankly, there are few countries in the world that are going to need and be able to afford to buy and operate the F-35. And the market for the F-22, even if there was no ban on export, would be even smaller.

[Vroomfondel]

ping

[Eurotwit]

Are we making the right choice?

BTW: someone earlier on this thread asked about allies buying the f-22.

Sometimes allies cannot be trusted. I just read earlier today about the Kongsberg-Toshiba scandal.

Where a Japanese and a Norwegian firm sold western submarine technology to the Soviets. So they could become silent. I think some of that was the basis for the Red October film.

Anyhow, the guy who lead the enquiry then was a certain Duncan Hunter.

Cheers.

[pissant]

Yes. GOod choice.

ANd yes, Hunter was livid. He wanted to ban Toshiba from ever doing business with or in in the US ever again.

[WesternCulture]

You deceitful Norwegians!!

Mighty Obama, why don’t you DO somethin’??

Seriously,

No biggie, we still love you,

Sweden (the only Nordic team sport nation)

[2111USMC]

I suspect it is more than just our wanting to keep the technology under wraps.

At this point, we don't seem to have the money to produce enough for our own use. (They are a very expensive aircraft.)

I read a thread here just a day or so ago that we had money preliminarily set aside to build another 20 units. However, someone in their infinite wisdom has chosen to only authorize the immediate build of 4 more. This leaves the balance of a paltry 16 planes subject to the whims of our new administration.