F-35s arrive in Norway

Luftforsvaret pilots Ståle Nymoen and Thomas Harlem walk from their aircraft, F-35As 5148 and 5150, to the reception ceremony after landing at Ørland Main Air Station on November 10.
Torbjørn Kjosvold/Forsvaret

The first three F-35As to arrive in Norway for the Luftforsvaret (Royal Norwegian Air Force), serial numbers 5148, 5149 and 5150, landed at Ørland Main Air Station on November 3. They were officially welcomed into service on November 10. Seven more of a planned total of 52 for the Nordic nation are based at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, engaged in pilot training for Norwegian and other operators. The Lightning II is scheduled to achieve initial operational capability status with the Luftforsvaret during 2019 and is expected to be declared fully operational in 2025.

Lockheed Martin announced on November 6 it had delivered a fullmission simulator to Ørland, as well as to fellow F-35 operators Japan, Italy and Israel. Norway will receive its new aircraft at the rate of six each year from 2018 up to and including 2024.

Shortly after the delivery, it was revealed that Norway has become the first foreign country to receive the F-35 Block 3F mission data file from the US Air Force’s 53rd Electronic Warfare Group’s Partner Support Complex.

F-35 Partner Support Complex director Robert Kraus said: “Delivery of this mission data file to Norway marks a great landmark. Our software provides the Norwegian F-35 an unprecedented precision attack capability – a crucial element to maintaining peace.”

The Block 3F mission data allows the F-35 to perform its primary missions of air interdiction, close air support and suppression and destruction of enemy air defences.

The Partner Support Complex is tasked with programming the mission data software for F-35 partner nations: Australia, Denmark, Italy the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey and the UK.