Norway has become the first country to complete the procurement of F-35A fighters from the US as Lockheed Martin delivered the 51st and 52nd fighters to the country, fulfilling the 52 jet deal.
"The F-35 is the world's best fighter jet and I am very pleased that we will receive the last of the 52 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin that Norway has ordered," Norwegian Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik said, adding that the aircraft will ensure that its forces can safeguard Norwegian sovereignty and maintain even better control over our areas on land, at sea and in the air.
It was in 2015 that the first Norwegian F-35 took flight, and by 2019, Norway's F-35 fleet achieved initial operational capability.
The advanced capabilities and increased interoperability of the fighter jets would enhance the defense capabilities of the country and ensure cooperation with key allies across Europe.
Chauncey McIntosh, vice president and general manager of the F-35 program at Lockheed Martin, said Norway's F-35 fleet enhances interoperability across the Norwegian Armed Forces' defense systems, improving situational awareness of the entire force and strengthening transatlantic security.
As the cornerstone of the battlespace for 20 allied nations, the F-35 enables peace through strength in the 21st century, the company claimed in a release.
"With over a million flight hours and a global fleet of more than 1,150 aircraft and growing, the F-35 provides unrivalled capabilities, strengthening deterrence for allies around the world. F-35s operate from 48 bases worldwide, including 10 nations operating on home soil," the company said.