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.



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[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?