Mixed signals have been coming from several of the embattled JSF program‘s foreign partners, including Britain and Norway. In an apparent response to the Norwegian announcement that they might be considering withdrawing from the program on account of their industrial share, representatives from Lockheed Martin, the US Government and Eurofighter have been campaigning intensively for their cause in the Norwegian news media. Drawing on Norwegian sources, I have compiled this following survey of the last months’ events, and the war of words that finally led to the announcement on May 8th, 2006 that Norway will continue their participation with JSF – for now.
In early 2005 Norway was being courted by Saab/BAE and EADS, and was considering a pull-out from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program over issues of industrial share. The Norwegian Government has just decided to continue participation in the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter’s System Design & Development program, and will pay the applicable NOK 114 million ($18.75 million at current conversion) in addition to the 429 million kroner that has already been paid. As DID reader Endre Lunde explains in his in-depth analysis today, the decision came after Lockheed Martin presented an improved package for Norwegian industry. Potential contracts of up to NOK 18-19 billion ($3 billion or so at current conversion) have been identified, but not guaranteed.
Norway’s Minister of Defence Anne-Grete Strom-Erichsen announced that this would suffice to go forward, but pointedly notes that Norway has not formally selected the fighter that will replace their 70 remaining F-16s with about 40-50 new aircraft…
Part of the Australian government’s recently-released 2006-2007 budget proposal covers border protection and deterrence of illegal activities, including illegal fishing, people smuggling, and other criminal or even potentially terrorist activities. This coordinated, whole-of-government approach to protecting Australia’s northern borders will also extend to command changes. The Joint Offshore Protection Command (JOPC) will now assume responsibility for operational coordination and control for civil maritime enforcement activities. The creation of this single command centre to undertake planning, surveillance, intelligence analysis and deployments.
Since being deployed to Iraq at the outset of military operations in early 2003, Shadow UAV units have flown more than 17,000 sorties and 76,000 flight hours in support of U.S. and allied operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom. DID has covered some of those experiences and lessons learned.
Now United Industrial Corporation subsidiary AAI Corp. has received $152.7 million in contracts for 36 Shadow UAVs, associated systems, and support. Details re: the contracts, and systems, follow below…
