Receiving the First F-35 Lighting II Is A Major Milestone for Norway
(Source: Norwegian Ministry of Defence; issued Nov 04, 2017)
Norway’s first three Lockheed Martin F-35A fighters arrived at Orland air base on Friday, Nov. 3, escorted by Norwegian F-16s they are due to replace. These are the first US-assembled F-35s to operate in Europe. (RNoAF photo)
“Receiving the first three aircraft is a major milestone for Norway. On November 10th, Norway will celebrate First Aircraft Arrival of the first three F-35s on Norwegian soil. Achieving this milestone is a major step towards increased operational capability for the future,” says Major General Morten Klever, Program Director for the F-35 program in Norway's Ministry of Defence.
“This is an historic event. The arrival of the first F-35 in Norway at this time shows that we have reached the timeline set for the acquisition. The program delivers on all key criteria: time, cost and performance. Today we are both proud and happy. The Royal Norwegian Air Force is looking forward to starting their training with the F-35,” says Major General Klever.
The three aircraft, the first to be delivered to Norway, took off from Fort Worth, Texas at 06.35 AM Norwegian time November 3rd and landed at 03.57 PM the same day at Ørland Air Base.
From 2018, Norway will receive six aircraft annually up until, and including, 2024.
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Norway’s First F-35s Land at Home Base Ørland
(Source: F-35 Lightning; issued Nov 03, 2017)
The jets departed from the F-35 production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, USA, at 6:35 a.m. Norwegian time, and landed on Norwegian soil for the first time at around 3:40 p.m. local time.
Norway has taken delivery of 10 F-35s to date. Seven of those aircraft are at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where Norwegian pilots are in training.
The Norwegian government has plans to purchase up to 52 F-35s.
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