Norway has taken delivery of three additional F-35A fighter jets, bringing the total to 49, with the final three expected to arrive before summer, according to the Norwegian Defense Material Agency.
The newly received aircraft touched down in Norway on February 27 and will be stationed at Ørland Air Base.
Over the past three months, the country has received nine F-35s, and with 52 in total on order, the last three are anticipated to be delivered in the spring, the agency, which oversees military procurement, stated.
Colonel Tord Aslaksen, head of Norway’s fighter aircraft department in defense material air capabilities, praised Lockheed Martin’s efficiency in delivering the jets, acknowledging the challenges associated with producing fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
Experts continue to assess the future of European F-35 fleets, especially as tensions in Ukraine and evolving U.S. military support for NATO shape defense strategies.
A report from the Washington-based Center for Policy and Analysis highlighted that while European nations benefit from the airpower provided by F-35s, these aircraft alone cannot compensate for deficiencies in ground-based firepower, raising concerns about dependence on a single type of military asset.
Retired U.S. Major General Skip Davis, a former NATO official, emphasized the need for improved integrated air and missile defense within European NATO forces to meet the demands of modern high-intensity warfare.
Lockheed Martin projects that by 2035, Europe will have more than 600 F-35s in operation.
