Press Release

No: 06/97
17.02.97

New fighter aircraft - two candidates

In the process of acquiring new fighter aircraft, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence has decided to begin negotiations with the manufacturers of Eurofighter 2000 and F-16 Block 50N Fighting Falcon. The deliveries are expected to commence in year 2003.

MOD Norway's decision is based on a recommendation from the Chief of Defence. This recommendation reflects an analysis carried out by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment in the period 1993-1996.

Four candidates have been considered carefully over the last year. These are:

• Eurofighter 2000 - a joint venture between Great Britain, Germany, Italy, and Spain
• F-16C Block 50N Fighting Falcon - an modernized version of the last F-16C model
• F/A-18C Hornet - an American fighter produced by Mc Donnell Douglas
• Rafale - a French fighter produced by Dassault Aviation. Two models are designed:

one land based and one adapted for aircraft carriers

Eurofighter 2000 is developed by Eurofighter GmbH. A prototype was tested for the first time in 1994. The first squadrons will be in the air in Great Britain and Italy in year 2000, and fully operational after year 2002.

F-16C Block 50N Fighting Falcon is produced by Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft System. The fighter is expected to be operational shortly after year 2000.