Norway chooses American fighter plane over Swedish competitor

Dagbladet ^ | November 20th, 2008 | KRISTOFFER EGEBERG

[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.