New combat aircraft - Norway to continue participation in JSF programme
Historisk arkiv
Publisert under: Regjeringen Bondevik II
Utgiver: Forsvarsdepartementet
Pressemelding | Dato: 07.06.2002 | Sist oppdatert: 23.10.2006
The Government has decided to continue Norwegian participation in the United States Joint Strike Fighter project. Norway has been a participant in the introductory phase of this programme since 1996. The intention is to enable Norway to take part in a wide-ranging programme of multilateral co-operation in preparation for eventual procurement of the next generation of combat aircraft. This decision does not imply a choice of a successor to replace the existing F-16 aircraft, and the Government is therefore ensuring that Norway can continue to follow closely the development of alternative candidates, including Eurofighter and Rafale.
Press release
No.: 34/2002
Date: 03.06.02
New combat aircraft – Norway to continue participation in JSF programme
The Government has decided to continue Norwegian participation in the United States Joint Strike Fighter project. Norway has been a participant in the introductory phase of this programme since 1996. The intention is to enable Norway to take part in a wide-ranging programme of multilateral co-operation in preparation for eventual procurement of the next generation of combat aircraft. This decision does not imply a choice of a successor to replace the existing F-16 aircraft, and the Government is therefore ensuring that Norway can continue to follow closely the development of alternative candidates, including Eurofighter and Rafale.
In the Government’s view, the most important thing is to focus on the operational requirements for the new generation of combat aircraft. On the basis of a comprehensive assessment to date, the Government considers that the Joint Strike Fighter is the alternative that looks most likely to be able to satisfy our future operational requirements in a cost-effective manner. It is also important that we should improve our ability to work jointly with other allied nations and to take part in international operations. Norway has developed a close co-operation with allies such as Denmark and the Netherlands and the governments of these two NATO countries have also decided to take part in the JSF development programme. Participation in the development of the next generation combat aircraft will provide a sound foundation for close co-operation with likeminded allies throughout the lifetime of the aircraft. So far, moreover, the JSF is also the alternative that looks most likely to offer the best opportunity to carry forward into the future the highly successful co-operation enjoyed hitherto with the F-16.
This decision signals the Government’s intention to
contribute up to NOK 1016 million over a 10 year period from 2002
to 2012. Participation in the JSF programme should provide
Norwegian industry with excellent opportunities to play a part in
the development work. The Ministry of Defence has good reason to
expect that Lockheed Martin, the JSF prime contractor, and its
subcontractors will make arrangements for Norwegian industry to
play an integral part in the programme. Participation in a
programme of this magnitude represents a unique opportunity for
Norwegian industry to establish its position in the global
integrated supply chain which will be needed to support JSF
throughout the life of the entire system, probably 30-50 years. The
agreement concluded with the United States authorities contains
clauses which give Norway special rights to terminate the agreement
if Norwegian industry is not afforded satisfactory opportunities to
participate. If it proves impossible to arrive at arrangements for
industrial collaboration with a satisfactory content, the
Government will assess how far Norwegian participation in the
programme should continue.
No final decision as to the choice of aircraft to replace the
F-16 will be taken before about 2008. The Government is therefore
making the preparations necessary to allow the further development
of the alternative candidates to be followed closely and to provide
for a continuing dialogue with the Eurofighter project as well as
with the French government and French industry regarding Rafale.
Against this background the Ministry of Defence will, when
the matter has been duly laid before the Storting, sign the
agreement with the United States authorities setting out the
provisions governing Norwegian participation in the development of
JSF.
For more information please contact Martin Lohne, Press
Spokesman, telephone +47 23092310