Norway pleased with cost reductions in LRIP 9 F-35 contract

Article | Last updated: 03/11/2016 | Ministry of Defence

The Joint Program Office has definitized the contract with Lockheed Martin for the ninth production series of the F-35, which includes six Norwegian aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2017.

Første norske F-35 løftes ut av monteringsdokken 9. april 2015 — Her løftes det første norske flyet ut av monteringsdokken 9. april 2015. Her har de ulike skrogseksjonene blitt satt sammen siden monteringen startet i januar. Credit: Lockheed Martin

- The JPO is responsible for securing the best possible deal on behalf of all the buyer nations. We are pleased that we finally have a definitized contract in place, and with costs continuing to go down as expected. It is now imperative that we are able to move forward with subsequent contracts as well, in order to maintain the momentum of the program, says Norwegian F-35 Program Director, Major General Morten Klever.

Norway has so far authorised the procurement of 28 F-35As out of a planned 52, with four aircraft already delivered. The first Norwegian F-35s are expected to arrive at Ørland Main Air Station at the end of 2017.