Successful F-35 drag chute test in Norway
Historical archive
Published under: Solberg's Government
Publisher: Ministry of Defence
Press release | Date: 20/02/2018
While The US Air Force is completing another round of cold-weather testing of the F-35A at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, Norway completed a successful verification of the drag chute system at Ørland Air Force Base in Norway February 16th.
![Drag chute](/globalassets/departementene/fd/gamle-bilder-fd/bilder---til-aktuelt-og-pm-i-fd-lag-gjerne-undermappe-til-samlealbum/kampfly/drag-chute---bremseskjerm/bremseskjerm.jpg?preset=article&v=-426056428)
− Receiving the first three aircraft in November 2017 was a major milestone for Norway. The program delivers on all key criteria: Time, cost and performance. Through the verification of the production version of the drag chute on our production model of the F-35, the weapons system is expected to fully qualify for arctic conditions this spring, says Major General Morten Klever, Program Director for the F-35 program in Norway's Ministry of Defence.
![Drag chute](/globalassets/departementene/fd/gamle-bilder-fd/bilder---til-aktuelt-og-pm-i-fd-lag-gjerne-undermappe-til-samlealbum/kampfly/drag-chute---bremseskjerm/bremseskjerm-apnet.jpg?preset=article&v=-426056428)
Video can be watched on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5aPvJakASc
The chute — unique to the Norwegian aircraft — is housed under a small fairing on the upper rear fuselage between the vertical tails. It is being added in order to rapidly decelerate Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35s after landing on the country’s icy runways when there are challenging wind conditions. Other country’s may adopt the system.
![drag chute](/globalassets/departementene/fd/gamle-bilder-fd/bilder---til-aktuelt-og-pm-i-fd-lag-gjerne-undermappe-til-samlealbum/kampfly/drag-chute---bremseskjerm/vellykket-test-orland.jpg?preset=article&v=-426056428)
The Royal Norwegian Air Force had three aircraft delivered to Norway, Ørland in November 2017. From 2018, Norway will receive six aircraft annually up until, and including, 2024.