Norway chose U.S. aircrafts
The Norwegian government yesterday announced that it has chosen the U.S. Joint Strike Fighter as its new fighter jet. The decision is a blow to Swedish competitor SAAB, as well as to the plans for a closer Nordic defence cooperation.
In a press conference yesterday, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen said that today’s aging fleet of F16 jets will be replaced by the new U.S. aircraft Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
The premier said that the U.S. aircraft is “the only of the two candidates which meet demands”, and that it will be cheaper than the Swedish-made Jas Gripen.
-The choice of the JSF is based on unambiguous professional conclusions, Mr. Stoltenberg said.
The decision triggered major disappointment from the Swedish aircraft manufacturer SAAB. Representatives of the company say they believe the Norwegian conclusions are incorrect and that the JSF is not cheaper than the Jas Gripen.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said to NRK TV that the decision is a blow to the plans for a more committing Nordic defence cooperation. Over the last year, Norway, Sweden, as well as Finland, have stepped up talks over closer defence cooperation.
-I am disappointed and surprised, SAAB leader Åke Svensson said to DI.se about the decision.
He is joint by the Swedish Defence Minister, Sten Tolgfors, who in a press release says he regrets that Norway did not choose the Gripen as its future fighter aircraft.
Norwegian Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen in yesterday’s press conference said that the JSF meets demands with regard to all threat evaluations, while the Gripen meets only the international threat criteria and not three national criteria.
Norway plans to spend about 150 billion NOK on about 48 new aircrafts. A primary area of operation for the new aircrafts will be the High North. Together with new navy vessels, the aircrafts will give Norway a major military force in the region.
