On 3 November 2017, the first Norwegian F-35 fighter jets landed in Norway. They were to replace the predecessor F-16, which had secured Norwegian airspace since 1980. After an extensive test and evaluation phase, the F-35 gradually began to take over the role as Norway’s main fighter aircraft.
In January 2022, the F-16 was finally retired after long and faithful service. Now it was up to the new fighter plane to claim sovereignty in Norwegian airspace alone.
If we are to believe F-35 pilot and lieutenant colonel Morten “Dolby” Hanche, there is no aircraft better suited to the mission than the F-35.
– Built to be difficult to detect
The state-of-the-art fighter looks state-of-the-art. In the pictures, you can see that the hull has a smooth “stealth look”. In the cockpit, there is almost only one large screen to see.
Fighter pilot Hanche says “survivability” when asked to describe the F-35.
– The aircraft is built to be difficult to detect by an opponent. It means that we can operate much safer in areas where we would not be able to operate with the old F-16 aircraft, he tells ABC Nyheter.
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The Lockheed Martin F-35 is a so-called “stealth aircraft”. The technology reduces the aircraft’s visibility on radar. “Dolby” explains that the technology gives the Norwegian pilots more time and greater room for action because they are more difficult to detect.
Combined with a range of sensors, stealth technology gives the F-35 a huge advantage:
– We see the enemy before the enemy sees us. Then we can make plans, which can also be to avoid the opponent in order to focus on the original goal. Fighting on the road can be distracting, but if you end up in combat, the F-35 fires first, says Hanche.
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– It is usually the case that whoever shoots first wins, he adds.
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This image from an F-35 simulator gives an impression of what the cockpit of the real aircraft looks like. Photo: Ole Andreas Vekve / Armed Forces
Gets time to look up
As mentioned, the F-35 is equipped with a number of sensors. According to “Dolby”, the central technology helps the aircraft to “see” far and wide.
– In addition, the sensors are linked together so that the pilot does not have to spend energy on controlling each individual sensor in detail.
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When it was the F-16 that ruled Norwegian airspace, the pilots had to spend more time getting a picture of the situation. The reason was that the pilot had to tell the sensors what to look for. In the F-35 it is different.
– This is automated. The machine is better at giving the pilot a complete picture of the situation. This frees up time for other tasks. You get time to look up and think ahead.
See video: Unable to land the plane
Plays other good
The combat pilot further explains that the aircraft’s survivability and sensors can help make other allied parties on the battlefield better, whether they are in the air, or on the ground and at sea.
– In collaboration with, for example, older fighter aircraft, we can contribute to making the old aircraft more efficient, says Hanche.
In contrast to the F-16, which was developed in the 1970s, but underwent modernization processes afterwards, the F-35 is a more independent platform. As the F-16 in practice had to be served a “ready-made” target designated by others, the F-35 can manage to a greater extent on its own.
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– It gives flexibility. Especially in a war situation, when normal processes will become difficult because the enemy is doing his utmost to destroy us.
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For a long time the General Dynamics F-16 formed the backbone of the Norwegian air force. Here is one on a mission in 2008. The other planes are Russian Tupolev Tu-160 bombers that are in international airspace. Photo: Per Egil Rygg / Air Force / AFP / NTB
– Maintaining control in the air is crucial
From time to time, Norwegian F-35s move out to identify unknown aircraft that appear outside Norwegian airspace. These missions are known as Quick Reaction Alert missions (QRA), and there are always two Norwegian fighter jets ready to take off from Evenes air station.
According to the Norwegian Armed Forces, 59 unknown aircraft were identified during 32 calls in 2023. The unknown aircraft are most often Russian military aircraft that are on various flight and training missions just outside Norwegian airspace.
– In QRA missions, we usually have missiles and machine guns with us, says Lieutenant Colonel Hanche.
He points out that the F-35 is well suited to destroying enemy air defenses, and that this is something Norwegian air forces train on together with American bombers. In such scenarios, the target is often enemy air defense systems that are on Norwegian soil in connection with an intended invasion.
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– Maintaining control in the air is crucial. Then you must also be able to take out enemy air defenses. Here, the F-35 is in a class of its own, says Hanche.
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A Norwegian F-35 photographed from a Belgian F-16. Photo: Belgian Air Force / Defense media bank
A great investment
A number of countries contribute to the US-led F-35 project. Along with the planes, customers get access to a package containing software that must be kept up-to-date throughout the life of the planes.
When Norway was going to acquire combat aircraft to replace the F-16, several types of aircraft were discussed, including the Swedish JAS 39 Gripen manufactured by Saab.
In the end, the choice ended on the F-35 produced by Lockheed Martin. The choice met with opposition. Several believed that you got more combat aircraft for the money by choosing something else.
Norway will have a total of 52 aircraft of the type. In December 2023, the National Audit Office referred to the F-35 purchase as the largest investment in the Norwegian public sector of all time.
2024-03-17 07:00:52
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