BODØ, Norway–Norway is investing over $1 billion to upgrade the infrastructure at an air force base in preparation for the F-35’s arrival next fall.
Norwegian Ministry of Defense spokesman Endre Lunde said Thursday two separate efforts are underway at Ørland Main Air Station to make it one of the central hubs for the Norwegian Air Force. Lunde said Norway is spending about $850 million to upgrade Ørland’s infrastructure specifically to house the F-35. A Norwegian defense official told reporters here Sept. 9 this includes a new squadron and maintenance building, a runway extension, living quarters and facilities, aircraft shelters and base protection.
Lunde said Norway is also spending roughly $333 million to provide a general refurbishment of Ørland air force station for non-F-35 related parts of the base, including housing, offices, facilities for air defense and base security forces. Ørland will be the main operating base for Norway’s conventional variant F-35s and, along with Bodø Main Air Station, is one of two air force stations hosting Norway’s entire fighter jet force, including F-16s.
Norway is buying 52 F-35s. While the first one arrives in Norway in 2017, the initial operational capability (IOC) goal is 2019 with 2025 being the full operational capability (FOC) target.
Norway started taking F-35 deliveries last year, accepting two in 2015 and two in 2016. These four aircraft are currently at Luke AFB, Ariz. Starting in 2017, Norway will start taking delivery of six F-35s per year annually through 2024, according to Norwegian briefing slides. Endre said of the six aircraft Norway plans to receive in 2017, only three will be brought back to Norway as the other three will remain at Luke until 2024 when the build-up of pilots and crew is complete. Those will then return to Norway, leaving four aircraft permanently at Luke for training purposes. For 2018 through 2024, the six annual deliveries will be sent to Norway.
The Joint Strike Missile (JSM), a joint effort of Kongsberg and Raytheon [RTN], will be on both the Norwegian F-35s and United States F-35s. F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) spokesman Joe DellaVedova said Thursday the JSMs are not on the IOC-declared F-35s but will be on aircraft as part of a follow-on modernization program. The JSM is a long-distance anti-ship fire-and-forget missile designed to take on high value, heavily defended targets.
Norway’s military anticipates a long-term budget boost being approved by its parliament in early November. The nation plans to increase its budget gradually over the next four years to eventually reach $874 million more than what it spent in 2016 (Defense Daily, Sept. 13). Though the Norwegian defense official said a public debate is taking place in Norway over military spending priorities, some argue for additional army manpower while others argue for additional naval and air force platforms. He added that new submarines could possibly arrive in 2026.
Norway, in June, released a new long-term defense plan. Norway’s defense budget is roughly $5.5 billion.