Norway to reduce F-35 order?

[mor10]

Three additional F-35s from Ørland Airport will be stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, USA, to increase the training capacity of Norwegian fighter pilots until the autumn of 2023.

This is part of the Air Force's plan to increase the training of fighter pilots at the same time as the conversions of pilots from F-16 to F-35 continue.

- It is necessary to add three more aircraft to the department at Luke to ensure that we have the necessary number of fighter pilots at FOC in 2025, but just as important also for the time after FOC, says Major General Tonje Skinnarland, Chief of the Air Force.

FOC (Full Operational Capability) simply means that the entire F-35 fleet is up and running, and in full operation according to task solution and operation.

Read the full translated post here:
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https://www.forsvaret.no/aktuelt-og-presse/aktuelt/oker-utdanningskapasiteten-pa-luke

[XanderCrews]

Three additional F-35s from Ørland Airport will be stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, USA, to increase the training capacity of Norwegian fighter pilots until the autumn of 2023.

This is part of the Air Force's plan to increase the training of fighter pilots at the same time as the conversions of pilots from F-16 to F-35 continue.

- It is necessary to add three more aircraft to the department at Luke to ensure that we have the necessary number of fighter pilots at FOC in 2025, but just as important also for the time after FOC, says Major General Tonje Skinnarland, Chief of the Air Force.

FOC (Full Operational Capability) simply means that the entire F-35 fleet is up and running, and in full operation according to task solution and operation.

Read the full translated post here:
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https://www.forsvaret.no/aktuelt-og-presse/aktuelt/oker-utdanningskapasiteten-pa-luke

great update! Thank you

[pron]

At first Norway planed for 4 F-35 at Luke, then they moved to 7 F-35, and now they need to increase to 10 F-35.
It's a bit strange, and one have to ask the following. Have they lost more pilot's to airlines than planed? I don't think so with covid for a year. Do they get less hours in the air from the F-35 than they planed for? Anyone care to make a guess?

And some good news - Development of the THOR-ER(Tactical High-speed Offensive Ramjet for Extended Range) goes as planed, and they will fly in about 3 years from now.

https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Ar ... hnologies/

[XanderCrews]

At first Norway planed for 4 F-35 at Luke, then they moved to 7 F-35, and now they need to increase to 10 F-35.
It's a bit strange, and one have to ask the following. Have they lost more pilot's to airlines than planed? I don't think so with covid for a year. Do they get less hours in the air from the F-35 than they planed for? Anyone care to make a guess?

And som good news - Development of the THOR-ER(Tactical High-speed Offensive Ramjet for Extended Range) goes as planed, and they will fly in about 3 years from now.

https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Ar ... hnologies/

We can build F-35s faster than we can build pilots is my first thought

[mor10]

At first Norway planed for 4 F-35 at Luke, then they moved to 7 F-35, and now they need to increase to 10 F-35.
It's a bit strange, and one have to ask the following. Have they lost more pilot's to airlines than planed? I don't think so with covid for a year. Do they get less hours in the air from the F-35 than they planed for? Anyone care to make a guess?

And some good news - Development of the THOR-ER(Tactical High-speed Offensive Ramjet for Extended Range) goes as planed, and they will fly in about 3 years from now.

https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Ar ... hnologies/

Likely needed to get over the hump converting Viper pilots, now that the Panther will shortly take of our rapid response from the Vipers.

[krieger22]

And it's a wrap for their QRA deployment. Video in the link... https://twitter.com/Luftforsvaret/statu ... 8872709120

[spazsinbad]

Norwegian F-35s Complete NATO Deployment to Iceland
Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office based on information provided by the Norwegian F-35 detachment Public Affairs Officer

"RAMSTEIN, Germany - The Royal Norwegian Air Force fighter detachment has wrapped up the second deployment of the F-35 fighter aircraft to executed NATO’s Air Policing mission in Iceland.

For four weeks the detachment personnel have worked with the Icelandic Coast Guard at Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, and NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre at Uedem, Germany, to safeguard Allied airspace in the High North.

For Quick Reaction Alert operations, the F-35 plays this role in exactly the same way as the F-16 Norway has used so far; however, the F-35 can do so much more, and the aircraft gives the pilot a much better understanding of the situation

“We have gained very useful experience related to the transfer of the weapon system F-35 with the implementation of operations and maintenance of Quick Reaction Alert from an outdoor base over time,” says Lieutenant Colonel Tron Strand, detachment commander for NATO air policing mission in Iceland.

"For Quick Reaction Alert operations, the F-35 plays this role in exactly the same way as the F-16 Norway has used so far; however, the F-35 can do so much more, and the aircraft gives the pilot a much better understanding of the situation,” said Lieutenant Colonel Strand. “The F-35 represents the future, and the aircraft is clearly necessary to be able to meet tomorrow's threats,” he added.

NATO’s Allied Air Command oversees the Air Policing mission for all European NATO Allies through its two Combined Air Operations Centres in Spain and Germany. Allied Air Command also works with the Allied Air Forces to integrate modern aircraft like the F-35 into NATO Air Power. Iceland is one example of this."

Source: https://www.f35.com/f35/news-and-featur ... eland.html

[spazsinbad]

For the First Time, Norwegian F-35s Used in "Red Flag"
27 Mar 2021 Norwegian Armed Forces via LM PR

"Four Norwegian F-35 aircraft, Norwegian pilots and associated Norwegian technicians participate in one of the world's largest air exercises. "Red-Flag" is a two-week "Advanced Aerial Combat Training Exercise" conducted by the US Air Force.

The Norwegian aircraft, pilots and technicians are part of the 62 Fighter Squadron, which trains Norwegian, Italian and American F-35 pilots on a daily basis. The squadron is stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. About 2,500 people from different countries participate in the exercise. The United States, Singapore, Sweden, and seven other NATO countries are represented.

[b]One of the Norwegian "B-course students" (B-course is type check on F-35 and tactical qualification) has almost finished a 9-month training course to be certified as an F-35 pilot[/b]. He says that being able to participate in the Red Flag has been very good, and that the exercise has provided invaluable experience. No other arena provides this type of training and experience.

The complexity and tactical challenge you face under Red Flag is not exposed to anywhere else in peacetime, says the pilot.

Satisfied boss
The head of the Norwegian department at the base and Senior National Representative (SNR), Lieutenant Colonel Christoffer "Ivo" Eriksen, is very pleased with the dividend and implementation.

The exercise has had great value for both participants and for the Air Force as a whole. It also sends clear signals about the important partnership between the nations in the F-35 program, where we stand together to deliver air power in the right place, at the right time, with the right effect, says Eriksen.

He further says that being able to send home newly trained pilots who have already been through such advanced exercises as Red-Flag, is a bonus that will benefit the Air Force in the future.

"Red-Flag" was first conducted in 1975. The goal of the exercise is to provide realistic "Air Combat Training" for military pilots and crew members from the United States and other allied countries. The exercise will give pilots their first "combat sorties" before they actually fly in war.

Participation in Red Flag is something that will also be a priority in the years to come, in order to train the best possible F-35 pilots for the Air Force, Eriksen concludes."

Source: https://www.f35.com/f35/news-and-featur ... -flag.html

[spazsinbad]

KONGSBERG SIGNS NEW AGREEMENT TO SUPPLY F-35 PROGRAM
01 Apr 2021 ADM

"Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) has signed a new agreement with Lockheed Martin worth $260 million for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program production lots 15-17.

The agreement includes delivery of the F-35 rudders, Vertical Leading Edges and Main Landing Gear Closeout panels for more than 500 aircraft. Production of these parts will continue through 2025.

“This latest contract is a reflection of Kongsberg’s long lasting partnership and support of the F-35 program,” Terje Bråthen, EVP Aerostructures at KDA, said. “The F-35 production program is now at full rate production and this contract secures work for the next four years, as well as positioning us for continued participation in future production lots.”

According to Lockheed Martin, Norwegian industry provides components including air-toair pylons, rudder and vertical fin leading edges, carbon composite panels, and completed and coated horizontal and vertical tails to the global program. Eighteen Norwegian companies have served as Tier 1 F-35 suppliers with nine currently active.

In March last year, Norway’s F-35s were scrambled for the first time to intercept Russian maritime reconnaissance and ASW aircraft, which regularly conduct flights towards strategic maritime chokepoints in the North Atlantic.

Norway intends to operate a full fleet of 52 F-35s by 2025, which are a variant aircraft that includes a drag chute to assist in icy landings."

Source: Australian Defence Magazine 01 April 2021

[doge]

Norwegian F-35s Complete NATO Deployment to Iceland
Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office based on information provided by the Norwegian F-35 detachment Public Affairs Officer

"RAMSTEIN, Germany - The Royal Norwegian Air Force fighter detachment has wrapped up the second deployment of the F-35 fighter aircraft to executed NATO’s Air Policing mission in Iceland.

For four weeks the detachment personnel have worked with the Icelandic Coast Guard at Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, and NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre at Uedem, Germany, to safeguard Allied airspace in the High North.

For Quick Reaction Alert operations, the F-35 plays this role in exactly the same way as the F-16 Norway has used so far; however, the F-35 can do so much more, and the aircraft gives the pilot a much better understanding of the situation

“We have gained very useful experience related to the transfer of the weapon system F-35 with the implementation of operations and maintenance of Quick Reaction Alert from an outdoor base over time,” says Lieutenant Colonel Tron Strand, detachment commander for NATO air policing mission in Iceland.

"For Quick Reaction Alert operations, the F-35 plays this role in exactly the same way as the F-16 Norway has used so far; however, the F-35 can do so much more, and the aircraft gives the pilot a much better understanding of the situation,” said Lieutenant Colonel Strand. “The F-35 represents the future, and the aircraft is clearly necessary to be able to meet tomorrow's threats,” he added.

NATO’s Allied Air Command oversees the Air Policing mission for all European NATO Allies through its two Combined Air Operations Centres in Spain and Germany. Allied Air Command also works with the Allied Air Forces to integrate modern aircraft like the F-35 into NATO Air Power. Iceland is one example of this."

Source: https://www.f35.com/f35/news-and-featur ... eland.html

I found the Norwegian version of the article. It looks like some parts are omitted in f35.com.
https://www.forsvaret.no/aktuelt-og-pre ... nd-er-over (Language is Norwegian. Use Google Translate.)

Three weeks of NATO preparedness in Iceland are over
- We have gained useful experience related to the transfer of the weapon system F-35 with the implementation of operations and maintenance of Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) from an outdoor base over time, says Tron Strand, Head of Department for Iceland Air Policing (IAP).
PUBLISHED 24 MAR 2021 Text: Stian Roen

The detachment commander is clear that the F-35 is well suited to carry out the QRA mission.
- The F-35 represents the future and the aircraft is clearly necessary to be able to meet tomorrow's threats and assert sovereignty over Norwegian airspace in the coming decades. The F-35 is a highly capable aircraft that surpasses the F-16 in all areas. For QRA operations, the F-35 plays this role in exactly the same way as the F-16. But the F-35 can do so much more, and the aircraft gives the pilot a much better understanding of the situation, says Strand.

F-35 is surpasses the F-16 in all areas !!(!?)

[doge]

From Norwegian Air Force Magazine 2019.
https://luftled.info/wp-content/uploads ... 3-2019.pdf (Language is Norwegian. Use Google Translate.)

F-35 - ON DISABILITY, CRISIS STABILITY AND OPERATIONAL CONCEPT
AIR JOINT 3 201 TEXT: Lieutenant Colonel OLE M TØRRISPLASS, LUFTFORSVARET
In 2008, the Storting decided to replace the fleet of F-16 fighter aircraft with the new 5th generation fighter aircraft F-35 Lightning II. At the time of writing, Ørland Central Airport has received 15 of a total of 52 aircraft, and the Air Force has declared the F-35 partially operational (IOC).

According to the plan, the aircraft will be fully operational (FOC) in 2025, and Norway will then have a fighter aircraft capacity with a potential that far exceeds what we have previously had. At the same time, the security policy situation in Europe has become more demanding. Russia is more assertive and has shown both the ability and the will to pursue security policy objectives by force. The High North and the Arctic have regained strategic relevance, and the region has increasingly become an arena for international competition. The Kola Peninsula is home to a number of Russia's strategic submarines, and the region is central to Russia's strategic deterrence and nuclear second-rate capability. The Russian Northern Fleet's mission is mainly to defend the second-generation capabilities. In the event of a conflict with NATO, Russia will seek to create a buffer zone that extends from the Barents Sea down to the North Atlantic to keep NATO at arm's length, known as the Russian bastion defense. In recent years, Russia has acquired and developed new weapons that give the country a realistic ability to establish bastion defenses and achieve regional military objectives. Developments in long-range precision weapons play a particularly important role here. Russia is in possession of modern cruise missiles that can hit targets throughout Norway and Europe. These are also difficult to defend against. At the same time, Russian air defense systems are among the most advanced in the world and have a very long range. This means that Russia has the opportunity to project military power over all of Norway and at the same time largely deny us access to airspace over large parts of northern Norway from its own territory.
This article addresses how the F-35 fits into this security policy picture. It starts by looking at how the aircraft affects Norway's ability to deter and then analyzes how it can affect crisis stability in a tense situation. Finally, some considerations are shared around a future operating concept for the use of the F-35. But, first we need to look at what an F-35 is actually capable of.

F-35 - SOMETHING QUALITATIVE NEW
The F-35 offers something qualitatively new compared to the F-16. Low signature, or "stealth" as it is popularly called, is often highlighted as what really distinguishes the F-35 from so-called 4th generation fighter jets. Low signature does not mean that the F-35 becomes invisible, but it will be far more difficult to detect. This provides a great advantage because an F-35 can find and engage an opponent's aircraft before it is even detected and because it has a far better ability to break through the opponent's air defenses. In addition, the F-35 has advanced active and passive sensors that enable the pilot to gain a good understanding of the situation and an overview of the battlefield. Advanced network equipment also allows the aircraft to communicate and share important information with other aircraft and ground devices in real time. The F-35 will be able to carry several different weapon systems, including the new missile "Joint Strike Missile" which is under development by Kongsberg. This is a capable missile that can be used against both sea and ground targets, and has a range of over 500 kilometers. The F-35 is thus a potent weapons platform that can operate effectively in demanding threat environments where the F-16 must quickly give up. The aircraft has a breakthrough capability and sensor capacity that far exceeds what we have previously had, and it can therefore solve several new types of assignments. Overall, this means that the F-35 is a robust tool that gives Norwegian decision-makers greater flexibility and new opportunities during both crisis management and war.

REDUCTION THROUGH REFUSAL AND PENALTY
Deterrence is about convincing a potential adversary that the cost of using military force against us will exceed the potential added value or gain. The deterrent party thus tries to influence the decision-making processes of the other party so that it chooses to pursue its interests without using pressure or military force. Traditional Norwegian security policy is based on two deterrent pillars. First, the Norwegian defense will try to deny, or at least slow down, a Russian attack until Allied reinforcements are in place. We are thus trying to influence the Russian decision-making process by creating doubts about how easy it will be to achieve military objectives. This is called deterrence through denial. Then our allies will come to our rescue and try to repel Russian forces and inflict cost. This is called deterrence through retaliation or punishment. The F-35 affects this image in several ways:

• First, the combination of range, speed and sensor capacity means that the F-35 can contribute to far improved situational awareness in large parts of our area of ​​operation, both over time and in acute situations. This allows decision-makers at all levels to make better and more timely decisions that can either help reduce tensions or help paint a picture for our allies that the pre-activation threshold of NATO Article 5 has been exceeded. This is especially important in situations where the other party actively tries to create doubt about the real situation by, for example, using hybrid instruments.

• Secondly, the F-35 means increased combat power that makes Norway better able to withstand a military attack from the east. The main task of the Air Force is to fight for control of the airspace. Although Norway can hardly manage to control the airspace alone over time in a conflict with an over-medical opponent, the F-35 can challenge Russian air control in a far better way than we previously could. The most important innovation in this area is that the F-35 has a real opportunity to engage and neutralize Russian long-range air defense, making it more difficult for Russia to deny us access to airspace. The F-35 can also contribute to the conflict at sea and on land. The aircraft can effectively engage ground targets and equipped with the Joint Strike Missile it has a realistic ability to hit even well-protected ships. Here, however, a simultaneity problem may arise, since the battle for air control will be difficult and requires great attention. Given that some Russian ships are also protected by air defense with a very long range, work on this will probably also have to take place in the maritime domain. This means that it may not be as relevant to conduct close support in the traditional sense to the land forces in the future. Nevertheless, the increased ability to challenge Russian control over airspace will also provide indirect added value for all branches of defense in the form of greater freedom of action and a lower risk of attacks from Russian aircraft.

• Thirdly, Norway is the only NATO country bordering Russia in the High North, and it is often said that Norway is NATO in the north. Increased national combat power and the ability to gather information make Norway better able to contribute to the Alliance's understanding of the situation and possibly defend NATO's northern flank on its own until Allied forces are in place. Their own ability to handle daily operations, episodes and crises can also contribute to the United States and other NATO countries not having to operate their own forces in the Barents Sea on a regular basis. Norway can thus to a greater extent keep NATO at a distance. This has several advantages because Norway has a good tradition of balancing deterrent and confidence-building measures, and is not perceived as a threat alone.

• Fourth, the F-35 opens up a new dimension in Norwegian deterrence. The Air Force's traditional operational concept for air force is based on the F-16 flying defensive patrols and meeting the opponent's aircraft and land forces as they cross into Norwegian territory. This is partly due to the fact that it is very risky to fly the F-16 within the arms range of modern Russian air defense. Low signature changes this image. The F-35's ability to break through advanced air defense systems can be used to attack militarily important targets in rear areas. Since Russian weapons systems, both in terms of cruise missiles and air defense, have a very long range, some critical targets may also be on the Russian side of the border. The F-35 thus facilitates that Norwegian fighter jets can to a far greater extent than before be used to strike back and inflict cost on the attacker where it stings the most. Our new fighter jet thus opens the door for Norwegian security and defense policy, in addition to deterring through refusal, to be based on deterrence through punishment.

CRISIS STABILITY
If Norway and NATO have no plans to attack Russia, our defensive military measures can nevertheless contribute to creating uncertainty about our intentions. In addition, misconceptions, misunderstandings and overreactions can increase the likelihood that events, crises and conflicts will get out of control and escalate even if neither party initially wanted war. In this context, the concept of crisis stability is central. Crisis stability is about how far states can go in demonstrating strength without even provoking a war that neither party really wanted. Crises are stable as long as neither side considers that war will be beneficial and at the same time does not believe that the opponent will choose to carry out a pre-emptive strike. On the other hand, crises quickly become unstable if one of the parties considers that a pre-emptive war can yield large gains or can prevent the opponent from getting into an advantageous situation. The instability will intensify in situations characterized by a lack of communication, poor situational awareness, uncertainty, lack of time and a perception that war is beginning to become inevitable. In this context, the F-35 can affect crisis stability in the High North in at least three ways. First, an effective deterrent threshold will help increase stability, because it will be more difficult for Russia to achieve military objectives and it could potentially be more costly. In isolation, therefore, the increased combat power of the F-35 as mentioned above could reduce the risk of war because it raises the deterrent threshold. Secondly, stability depends on us being able to protect our combat air bases effectively. The F-35 is a very capable weapons platform that Norway itself describes as a strategic resource. Then it is reasonable to expect that Russia also considers that the Norwegian F-35 poses a military problem that should preferably be eliminated before we can use the planes in combat. It is of course inconceivable that Russia will carry out a surprise attack on Norway solely to destroy our fighter jets, but in a tense situation between NATO and Russia we must be prepared for Russia to attack our bases and planes with long-range cruise missiles at an early stage. in the conflict. If our bases are poorly defended and it is therefore easy to take out the planes, the drive to attack early naturally becomes even stronger. Effective protection of our fighter bases is therefore a prerequisite for the F-35 to be able to provide effective resistance after an attack.
Here, own long-range air defense plays a central role, but this must be combined with other active and passive measures such as early warning, reinforced hangars, camouflage, deception measures and proliferation concepts. Well-defended bases can thus contribute to increasing crisis stability if it creates doubt about how easy it will be to destroy our planes on the ground in a pre-emptive strike. Finally, we must work to ensure that our defense measures do not make Russia unnecessarily uncertain about our and NATO's intentions, as this could lead to counter-reactions and a potential aggravation of the situation in the north. The dilemma, or the so-called security dilemma, thus lies in how Norway and NATO can increase their own security militarily, without themselves provoking increased tension, crises, or in the worst case war. In this context, it is Russia's atomic fra structure on the Kola Peninsula that is most relevant. This is because an imminent threat to the nuclear second-class capability could put Russian decision-makers in a situation where the activation of the bastion defense may appear to be the least risky of several bad alternatives. Although Russia does not fear that Norway will attack, we must clearly signal that Norway will not be a springboard for a pre-emptive strike from NATO. This is of course also the background for traditional Norwegian reassurance policy. The technological development where weapons, both Russian and Western, are gaining increasing precision and very long range, challenges crisis stability because it becomes more difficult to distinguish between an offensive and a defensive device. Nevertheless, we must not forget that a modern defensive war will always be a dynamic alternation between defense and attack on the opponent's weak or critical points. It is probably also reasonable to believe that Russia expects NATO and Norway to try to attack Russian forces as part of a defense war. The key question we face is therefore how we can signal that the F-35 is capable of hitting important military targets such as strategic air defense, without appearing in preparation for an attack and a threat to the nuclear infrastructure. The Norwegian Armed Forces works with this issue every single day. First and foremost, the Norwegian presence in the north is a normal situation, and the bulk of the training with fighter jets takes place from Nordland and south. In addition, the Armed Forces adheres to all international warning regimes for major exercises and there are restrictions on Allied activity near the border with Russia. In this way, the Norwegian pattern of operations is both predictable and transparent. That should continue to be the case.

TOWARDS A NORWEGIAN OPERATING CONCEPT FOR F-35
In the time leading up to the FOC in 2025, it is important that the Armed Forces prepares a clear operational concept for how the F-35 will be used. This often becomes a debate about whether the concept should be defensive or offensive, which can be problematic because both words are charged and the debate is therefore in far too many cases turned towards becoming a question of intention. Instead, the Armed Forces must look at established military principles, and focus on how we can challenge the opponent's weaknesses while protecting our own weaknesses. This is about exploiting the Air Force's inherent strengths such as speed, range and flexibility in a way that best enables us to defend ourselves against a modern threat. We depend on challenging strategic air defense at an early stage of the conflict. This will require a joint-operational approach, and we must ensure that processes and structures at all levels in the Armed Forces are designed to create the greatest possible effect in the shortest possible time. Effective joint operations will require close cooperation between all branches of defense in the years to come to ensure that the development of equipment, procedures and tactics are coordinated. The requirement for rapid response time also means that some important decisions must be made in advance, so that it is possible to create an effect even in the most demanding threat scenarios where our understanding of the situation and ability to communicate is challenged. Finally, the strategic potential that Norwegian politicians must also take a careful stance on how they want to use the F-35 as a security policy tool. Effective utilization of the capability will require efforts from all levels, but the direction must come from the top to ensure that the tool is used in a way that is in line with Norwegian objectives and interests.

[doge]

Interview with a Norwegian F-35 Engineer, 2017.
https://www.ffi.no/aktuelt/podkaster/16 ... et-pa-f-35 (Language is Norwegian. Use Google Translate.)

# 16: This is how FFI has researched the F-35
You have purchased a fighter jet that is not approved for landing on slippery runways. You are the closest neighbor to the Arctic. What are you doing?
NOVEMBER 9, 2017
This autumn, the first F-35 aircraft landed in Norway. In this issue of Ungraded, you can hear researcher Stian Betten talk about all the testing and assessment that lies behind such a procurement. Betten is a trained aviation engineer and self-proclaimed aviator. He has been involved ever since Norway began the process of purchasing new fighter jets in 2003. - The F-35 will change the Norwegian Armed Forces, Betten believes.

- I have had the most fun job in the world for 14 years now, says chief researcher Stian Betten enthusiastically.
Betten works as a chief researcher at FFI, is a trained aviation engineer and a self-proclaimed aviator. He has been involved ever since Norway began the process of purchasing new fighter jets in 2003.
It is not just, just buying fighter jets.

Specially designed brake fender
Betten was on Ørland the day the F-35 was to arrive, but since the planes were delayed, he just did not manage to catch the big moment. When the planes landed, Betten was in a plane on its way to Oslo with a bunch of others who would rather be left behind.
But the opportunity to see the F-35 in action soon presents itself again. In February, Betten travels to Alaska to help test a brake screen that is unique to the aircraft Norway will use.
- The F-35 is a fighter aircraft that can be used by many. Thus, the least common multiple is in some areas. The F-35 is not certified to land on runways with snow and ice. But we are a weather-hardy country, and must ensure that the aircraft can be used in all kinds of conditions, says Betten.
The solution was that Norway has financed the development of a brake fender for the F-35. Such brake fenders have been used on all Norwegian fighter jets since the 60s.
- Before we chose a brake screen, we had to check that the solution worked on the F-35. The aircraft has slightly different characteristics than the F-16. We had to calculate and simulate how the F-35 behaves during landing in all kinds of wind conditions with a screen hanging behind, Betten says.
Since there is not much ice and snow in Texas, where the engineers of Lockheed Martin are located, the operational environment in the Air Force, Defense Materiel and researchers from FFI have participated in the design work. Among other things, to make sure that the equipment can be used at -20 degrees on Banak.
- The work will mean that the F-35 will be certified to land on slippery runways and that the brake screen will be certified for use. Thus, Norwegian F-35 can be used in almost all kinds of weather, says Betten.

Thousands of test hours
Before the F-35 was elected, Betten and his colleagues were involved in evaluating the various candidates. They collected information and analyzed the aircraft to assess how good they are at solving the tasks they will be given in Norway. The researchers have also calculated how many aircraft Norway will have to buy for the fighter fleet to function as planned. This in turn has formed the basis for cost calculations.
In recent years, FFI has helped the Armed Forces to simulate and develop tactics and scenarios for how the aircraft will be used.
- We must know how to use the planes when they arrive. Then it's too late to start that investigation job. There have been many hours of analysis support for pilots who have tried out tactics and procedures in facilities where multiple simulators are connected in one world, Betten reveals.

Will change the Armed Forces
The F-35 is far more technically advanced and more versatile than its predecessor, the F-16. It can fight other aircraft and ground targets, conduct electronic warfare, gather intelligence and send and receive data from other friendly forces. Long-range sensors allow it to identify other aircraft long before it is detected. Not least, it must be able to find and defeat anti-aircraft guns before it is discovered.
The pilots will receive information from cameras and sensors directly into the helmet. It provides a unique overview of the situation. When they look down, the pilot will actually see the ground under the plane, not the inside of the cockpit.
- Flying an F-35 is like having a small R2-D2 in the back seat. The pilot does not have to spend so much attention on reading and interpreting sensor data. The aircraft reads and merges sensor data, so that the pilot gets a complete, finished picture of the surroundings. And the plane itself steers the sensors towards what is interesting. This is a very big step forward compared to the F-16, where the pilot has to control the sensors manually, and form an image of what he sees, Betten explains.
Even though the first planes have arrived, Betten still has a lot of work to look forward to. Until 2025, the researchers will continue to work on developing simulation models that will be used to evaluate how we can get the most out of the F-35.
- The F-35 will not only lead to major changes in the Air Force. This will lead to more cooperation across the branches of defense. This work is still in the making, says Betten.
- The aircraft can talk to ships, ground forces and surveillance aircraft. If a soldier needs fire support, he will in the future be able to place an order in the computer network F-35 is part of. The fire support can come from another department, from an aircraft, or a vessel. Likewise, the Navy can send missiles at targets specified by the F-35, or vice versa. Collaboration is the best way to take advantage of this aircraft.

R2-D2...(!) wow

[doge]

Norway's Minister of Defense praises the F-35.
https://www.dagensperspektiv.no/2021/f-35-er-en-suksess (Language is Norwegian. Use Google Translate.)

Viewpoint F-35 is a success
Only the F-35 can today solve all the missions Norway's combat air force has to handle, writes Minister of Defense Frank Bakke-Jensen in response to Magne Lerø's leader from 9 April.
By Frank Bakke-Jensen 13. April 2021 Frank Bakke-Jensen is Norway's Minister of Defense.
VIEWPOINT. On 9 April, Dagens Perspektiv in its leadership position mentions a post by former State Secretary Oddmund H. Hammerstad, which was originally published in Aftenposten the same day. Hammerstad believes that the purchase of fighter jets was a predicted disaster. Today's Perspective seems to mean the same thing. It's not just an attempt to rewrite history. It also shows a lack of insight into the kind of security challenges we face. At the same time, the proposal to rent a plane from Sweden is not very realistic.

A united Storting was in favor of acquiring a fifth-generation fighter aircraft, as we saw that fourth-generation fighter jets are not able to solve the missions at a high threat level in the same way as the F-35, without far greater risk of loss, and with the use of far more aircraft. .

Only the F-35 can today solve all the missions that Norway's combat air force has to handle. For a small air defense such as the Norwegian one, it is not appropriate to operate several aircraft types. We need an aircraft that can solve all types of missions, while the US Air Force has a large structure with several types of fighter jets that they use together to solve missions.
Norway chose our calculation model for flight hourly rates several years ago. The Air Force confirms that the flight hour price of NOK 110,000 stands to this day. Operating expenses in addition to the flight hour price are covered through the lifetime costs.

Actual experience with the use of the F-35 shows that the aircraft delivers as expected, if not better. At the same time, the costs have not become higher. On the other hand, operating and maintenance costs will be reduced as the fleet grows and the maintenance solution matures. Both the F-35 program and the manufacturer are now investing heavily in reducing operating costs. We currently have no information that any of the partner countries have real plans to reduce the number of aircraft, which could mean a limited increase in maintenance costs.

The Government's main priority is to strengthen the Armed Forces' operational capability and preparedness, including activity and presence.
We think it is positive that the F-35 is compared and referred to as an "air Ferrari". We need the best fighter to solve our missions. The Government's main priority is to strengthen the Armed Forces' operational capability and preparedness, including activity and presence. The F-35 gives us the ability to handle tasks such as surveillance and intelligence, asserting sovereignty and exercising authority. This is especially true in a more demanding security policy situation.

CPFH is still NOK 110,000 today !? wow! (Pretty Low Prices when converted to US dollars. )

[doge]

Amazingly, F-35 pilot with a camera can take a photos from the cockpit. (!) (Oh my god. )
https://www.tu.no/artikler/forsvaret-fr ... 2021-06-18 (Language is Norwegian. Use Google Translate.)

The Armed Forces releases the first photos taken from a Norwegian F-35
During the major exercise ACE-21.
PER ERLIEN DALLØKKEN DEFENSE JUNE 17, 2021
One and a half years after the Air Force declared its first operational capability with its F-35A, the fighter jets have for the first time participated in the major exercise Arctic Challenge Exercise.
Now the Armed Forces has also released the first photos taken from on board the new fighter jets. They are taken by the so-called TTT squadron (tactics, test and training).
(See also two photos at the bottom of the article)

Strict security
Pictures have been taken from Norwegian F-35s before as well, for example during the NATO missions in Iceland in March last year and this year, but these are the first pictures to be shared with the public.
The Air Force states the reason why there is a different safety regime around the F-35 than there is for the F-16. In addition, it is very strict what kind of equipment allow. For example, pilots can not just bring any camera into the cockpit, it must be tested and approved.
The day before ACE-21 ends, approximately 70 participating aircraft have flown a total of 1,200 assignments, of which approximately 400 are from Norwegian bases, ie Bodø and Ørland.
With the exception of an incident in Rovaniemi on Wednesday afternoon, when an American KC-135 tanker flew off the runway, there have been no accidents of any kind, information adviser Sigurd Tonning-Olsen in the Air Force informs Teknisk Ukeblad.
According to him, the F-35 aircraft have done more during the exercise than planned in advance and have succeeded very well in integrating with the allied air forces.
ACE is not a NATO exercise, but part of the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), and builds on the scheme with so-called "Cross Border Training" (CBT) where Norway, Sweden and Finland have trained together almost weekly since 2008/2009 practice areas.
ACE started with five participating nations in 2013, nine nations in 2015, eleven in 2017 and nine in 2019. In the last two years, there have been more than a hundred aircraft involved in the exercise activity. This year, the scope was somewhat reduced as a result of the pandemic.

[doge]

The Norwegian Defense Association praises the F-35.
https://www.forsvarsforeningen.no/norge ... for-norge/ (Language is Norwegian. Use Google Translate.)

Why F35 is a good choice for Norway
The F-35 can engage in electronic warfare, as well as reconnaissance and surveillance.
By the Norwegian Defense Association | 28. June 2021 |

The F-35 is procured by more and more countries. The Israeli military, who live in a very troubled part of the world, is at least excited about the plane.
By Jan Fr. Mack Asker and Bærum FF

A lot is published about F35 here at home. The goal often seems to write off rather than describe. In very many of the verbal attacks on the plane, the premises are obviously wrong. "F35 would lose in close combat with Gripen or Russian fighter jets", is among the regulars. "The plane does not give air domination", is another. There are no limits to how today's 4th generation aircraft beats the F35 when the big words are highlighted. "The plane can be shot down by Russian S-400 batteries", is another - without the allegations being substantiated with facts.
Israel's commander of the air force, Amikam Norkin, who has used the planes over large parts of the Middle East, is not entirely in agreement. As he says in an interview with the Jerusalem Post a couple of years ago: "We now start to understand the huge potential of the F35."
The large exercises and simulations that are arranged, such as in the annual "Red Flag" exercises, where Norwegian pilots also participate, confirm how superior the aircraft is to 4th generation aircraft.

"Stealth" is extensive
Maybe it's time to take a look at what the 5th generation F35 aircraft really is?
Most people have learned the term "stealth" - the aircraft is difficult to detect from other aircraft, from land or from the sea or for that matter from satellites. This is far more than form. There is also surface treatment and thermal shielding, but also communication and a large number of sensors that use very advanced methods to not be "seen".
The latter is important, because communication and sensors are the reason why the aircraft represents something quite new. Concepts such as "sensor & data fusion" are among the key concepts supported by great computing power and artificial intelligence. In "data fusion" there is technology that gathers all available information for the pilot and presents it in a way that gives a very good understanding of the entire battle scene, whether the enemy is on the ground, at sea or in the air. The presentation goes to the cockpit or directly to the helmet. The image is not limited to what the pilot sees, but presents all angles even if it is behind or under the aircraft. This is done without the aircraft being detected.

See "alt"
The image of the battle arena is continuously exchanged with other F35s and increasingly with other Allied aircraft or drones, with ground forces, sea and for that matter with satellites. Sensors from your own and others' F35 give the pilot a very good picture of the battle arena at a great distance. The plane is deadly without coming into close combat, whether the targets are in the air, on land or at sea. With its equipment of missiles, there is little reason to doubt that the F35 can provide air domination even from a distance.
The Norwegian "Joint Strike Missile" is introduced as an important part of the equipment. It is therefore interesting to look at a scenario: An enemy vessel is detected by a P8 surveillance aircraft or from a satellite. F35 is sent up and arrives within "range" of the ship, but still too far away to be discovered. A JSM missile is launched. The missile still has communication with the aircraft, which in turn may have the target defined by the other units. The missile, which itself has good stealth properties and flies extremely low, is guided towards the target, which is itself in motion. The enemy will hardly know that they are being attacked before they are hit. The attack can be interrupted at any time.
F35 can also contribute to the control of a JSM / NSM missile fired from, for example, a vessel or in the future from a submarine.

Advanced electronics
With its advanced equipment, the aircraft is also intended for a role in electronic warfare, both defense and attack as well as reconnaissance and surveillance.
If you are going to use football terminology, then the plane is not meant to be pointed, but rather a midfielder with an enormous understanding of the situation, completely accurate shooting foot and also X-ray vision. The danger of being tackled in front of goal is rather small, but the opportunity to decide the game is great.
As "team captain", F35 will be able to organize the game on the ground, at sea and in the air.
The Red Flag exercises, and experiences from Israel, have also shown that with the F35 on the team, 4th generation aircraft can be made more powerful.
What about drones? JSM is also a drone where the interaction with the F35 can play a crucial role. This applies whether there is one or a number of drones. The F35 is tested with the so-called Wing Man concept, where each aircraft has one or two drones in formation. The drones also have stealth and many of the same sensors. They can be sent to the front line on missions without putting the mother ship and pilot at risk.
The technologies are developing at a record pace. It makes sense to discuss autonomous entities and artificial intelligence in all arenas. But it is important to understand how the F35 is also part of this development. In the foreseeable future, it will hardly be either the F35 or drones, but both.
One can easily discuss whether Norway has the muscle to go heavy at an early stage in such a demanding and innovative project as the F35 actually is. Of course, it is also possible to discuss how many aircraft Norway should have. In any case, it is an advantage to understand the role that the aircraft can play when a country with limited resources is to make a credible contribution to its own preparedness.

They are saying that JSM is a drone. (!?) wow