Norway extends Joint Strike Fighter program

Source URL: http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1611627.ece
Posted at: http://www.air-attack/com/news/news_article/2291

Norway's defense minister said she was ready to sign a production deal with the US' fighter jet development program, but it's still unclear whether Norway will actually order any of them.

Defense Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen said Monday that her staff had hammered out a better production deal for the Joint Strike Fighter jet, which is under development by US defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

The deal, she claimed, provides for an "industrial cooperation" between Lockheed Martin and Norwegian suppliers that's "much more concrete." Norway had held off on extending its involvement in the Joint Strike Fighter program because Norwegian suppliers weren't getting enough business out of Lockheed Martin's original offer.

Now it appears the Norwegians stand to win more contracts of their own, while also continuing to work with rival producers that are competing with Lockheed Martin to sell fighter jets to Norway.

Strøm-Erichsen said there had been "progress" in development deals for Sweden's JAS Gripen jet and the Eurofighter, a jet being developed through a European cooperation.

The Norwegian government agreed in December to keep negotiating with all three fighter jet candidates, although some observers claim Norway is under intense pressure to buy its new jets from the US.

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