Lockheed Martin has delivered the final three F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft to Norway, completing the country’s procurement under the global Joint Strike Fighter Program.
Two of the jets were sent off from Fort Worth, Texas, by Norway’s Ambassador to the US, Anniken Huitfeldt, marking Oslo’s fulfillment of its F-35 fleet commitment in the 20-nation initiative.
The aircraft are scheduled to arrive at Ørland Air Base in Trøndelag before the weekend, where they will undergo final acceptance evaluations before entering service with the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
The third aircraft will remain in the US to support ongoing Joint Strike Missile testing for allied fighter aircraft.
Norway’s defense agency will hold a ceremony at Ørland Air Base in April to formally conclude its F-35 foreign military sale agreement with the US.
With the latest additions, Norway now operates 52 F-35s.
“The receipt of the last F-35 aircraft marks a significant milestone for Norway and the Norwegian Armed Forces,” Norwegian Defence Materiel Director Gro Jære stated.
“This is the result of many years of dedicated work and close cooperation across the entire defense sector. Together, we have ensured that Norway now has a modern and forward-looking combat aircraft capability that will strengthen our national security for decades to come.”
The Lightning II Fighter Jet
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, fifth-generation multirole fighter with a length of 51 feet (16 meters) and a wingspan of 35 feet (11 meters).
It can be equipped with multi-domain missiles, a 25mm rotary cannon, guided and unguided munitions, and nuclear bombs.
Powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 afterburning turbofan, the aircraft reaches speeds of Mach 1.6 (1,228 miles/1,976 kilometers per hour, with a range of 1,500 nautical miles (1,726 miles/2,778 kilometers) and a service ceiling of 50,000 feet (15,240 meters).
In Norway, the F-35 will replace the aging F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet, which has been in service since the 1980s.
