F-16 Fighting Falcon News

May 31, 1999 (by Lieven Dewitte) - The four-nation Eurofighter consortium on Tuesday offered to let NATO-member Norway join if Oslo chooses to buy Eurofighters instead of U.S.-built F-16s. Eurofighter and F-16 makers Lockheed Martin, the only rivals to supply Norway with 20 jets from 2003 to 2010 with an option for 10 more, presented formal bids on Tuesday.
Norway has a budget for the jets of 10.7 billion crowns (USD 1. 35billion). Norway would then become a partner in Eurofighter alongside Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain. The core four nations have signed contracts to buy 620 of the aircraft, with an option for 90 more. Harford said the offer to let Norway join would not automatically be repeated to other buyers. Membership would give Norway a bigger voice in development and in sharing details of the jet. Eurofighter officials said the consortium could provide Norway with industrial contracts, ranging from missiles to computers, worth more than twice the price of Norway's costs if it bought the Eurofighter jets. Norway, the first nation where Eurofighter staged an export display last year outside the original four nations, is a test market for Eurofighter in its bid to win contracts from Lockheed Martin.

Norway's existing fleet is of aging F-5s and 58 F-16s. Lockheed Martin is offering Norway an upgraded F-16 Block 50N.