+JSF_Aggie 1,291 Posted November 21, 2008 [Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Nov. 20, 2008] by Bob Cox The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has won its first foreign battle. The government of Norway said today that its Minister of Defence had chosen the F-35 Lightning II to replace its fleet of F-16 fighters. The Norwegian government made the decision following a lengthy competition that evaluated both the F-35 and Sweden’s Saab Gripen fighter jet. A press release issued by Norway’s Office of the Prime Minister said the F-35 was selected on a "clear recommendation" of the country’s air defense experts and that the "evaluation has been carried out in a professional and ethically sound manner." "The JSF is the only candidate which fulfills all the operational requirements specified by the Norwegian Government," the release said, and also was available at a lower price. Norway will pay $2.54 billion for 48 F-35s, a government spokesman told the Reuters news service. Sweden has been lobbying its neighboring countries hard to buy the Gripen. Denmark and the Netherlands, which like Norway participated financially in development of the F-35, are also holding competitions to select their F-16 replacements. Lockheed Martin officials have not yet commented on the decision. They have previously indicated that the Norwegian government is not expected to order planes for several years. No nation has yet placed a firm order for production of F-35s. But Lockheed and the U.S. government are negotiating with Israel for the purchase of 25 planes with an option for 50 more. The F-35s will be built by Lockheed in its Fort Worth plant. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JediMaster 451 Posted November 21, 2008 I'm not that surprised. Of course, I wouldn't have been surprised if they'd picked the Gripen either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nesher 629 Posted November 21, 2008 they didn'y say which model of the aircraft they chose... but i guess it's the A model thanks for the news i'm sure now that more countries will be at the line to buy the F-35's as more countries are interested in it... Cheers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Gocad 26 Posted November 22, 2008 Such as? Norway isn't exactly a new customer for the F-35. Most European nations that have not purchased the Typhoon or the Gripen are lined up for the F-35...and those who aren't simply don't have the money to buy new fighter aircraft. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lexx_Luthor 57 Posted November 22, 2008 ..and those who aren't simply don't have the money to buy new fighter aircraft. Iceland. A rather scary collapse at the margin. From an amatuer outsider's view, it would be cool if all the Nordic nations used the Gripen. SAAB made some cool stuff in the past (don't know anything about Gripen). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Gocad 26 Posted November 22, 2008 Iceland doesn't have a military anyway. I guess they've never read a certain Tom Clancy novel... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lexx_Luthor 57 Posted November 22, 2008 Well the Coast Guard exchanged some gunfire with RN during the ... Cod Wars? Some ramming and boarding too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
