Oman has signed a $1.28 billion contract for the purchase of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). It was selected over a competing offer from Europe's MBDA and included in the contract are ground support equipment, training and technical support.
The short-to-medium range surface-to-air missile defense system is able to defend against a range of aerial threats such as aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles and high precision munitions.
Initially developed by Raytheon in the United States and Norway's Kongsberg to meet Norway's defense needs as its launch customer, it has since been marketed to other countries and has been adopted by the US, Netherlands, Spain and Finland.
The system was the first application of the surface-launched version of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (SL AMRAAM), but it's also compatible with other surface-launched missiles such as the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) and the Sidewinder Missiles.
Showing posts with label Norway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Norway. Show all posts
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Norway to Acquire Next 6 F-35 Fighter Aircraft But Will Slow Acquisition Schedule
The Norwegian Defense Ministry has requested the parliament of Norway to approve the purchase of six F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft. The jets are to be delivered starting in 2017 or one year earlier than previously planned.
It has already ordered the first four F-35 in June 2012 and another 48 are to be purchased for a total of 52. The first four will stay in the United States for training and the next six will go to Norway.
Two F-35 fighter aircraft will be delivered in 2015 and another two in 2016. The F-35A variant ordered by Norway is the Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) variant.
Norway has decided to alter the time frame for the acquisition of the 48 F-35. The jets are now to be delivered over eight years, from 2017 to 2024, instead of the four years between 2018 and 2021.
Six jets will enter service over eight years instead of 12 over four years. The total cost is estimated at 62.6 billion Norwegian Crowns or $10.65 billion. Stretching out the time schedule will reduce the burden on the annual defense budget.
Despite recent problems with the F-35 program, Norway has a strong incentive to stick with the F-35. Norway's Kongsberg is currently developing the Joint Strike Missile (JSM), which is specifically designed to be carried internally by the F-35.
Based on the stealthy, sea-skimming, subsonic Naval Strike Missile, the JSM offers several improvements, including:
Norway considers the JSM to have excellent export potential due to its compatibility with the F-35, which is expected to be acquired in large numbers by many countries.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/26/norway-f-idUSL6N0DD1HP20130426
It has already ordered the first four F-35 in June 2012 and another 48 are to be purchased for a total of 52. The first four will stay in the United States for training and the next six will go to Norway.
Two F-35 fighter aircraft will be delivered in 2015 and another two in 2016. The F-35A variant ordered by Norway is the Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) variant.
Norway has decided to alter the time frame for the acquisition of the 48 F-35. The jets are now to be delivered over eight years, from 2017 to 2024, instead of the four years between 2018 and 2021.
Six jets will enter service over eight years instead of 12 over four years. The total cost is estimated at 62.6 billion Norwegian Crowns or $10.65 billion. Stretching out the time schedule will reduce the burden on the annual defense budget.
Despite recent problems with the F-35 program, Norway has a strong incentive to stick with the F-35. Norway's Kongsberg is currently developing the Joint Strike Missile (JSM), which is specifically designed to be carried internally by the F-35.
Based on the stealthy, sea-skimming, subsonic Naval Strike Missile, the JSM offers several improvements, including:
- Fits inside the F-35
- Extended range to about 280 km
- Addition of a two-way data link
Norway considers the JSM to have excellent export potential due to its compatibility with the F-35, which is expected to be acquired in large numbers by many countries.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/26/norway-f-idUSL6N0DD1HP20130426
Monday, January 14, 2013
US Report Details Unresolved Issues With F-35 Program
An 18 page Pentagon report recently sent to the United States Congress has provided some details about the current state of the F-35 fighter Lightning II program, which at $396 billion makes it the most expensive weapons program in the history of the United States.
Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor, is to build 3 different models of the F-35 fighter for the United States, which plans to purchase 2443 of the aircraft. In addition, the plane will likely be acquired by eight other nations that helped pay for its development, including:
http://news.yahoo.com/pentagon-report-cites-lack-maturity-lockheed-f-35-012237872--finance.html
Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor, is to build 3 different models of the F-35 fighter for the United States, which plans to purchase 2443 of the aircraft. In addition, the plane will likely be acquired by eight other nations that helped pay for its development, including:
- Australia,
- Canada,
- Denmark,
- Italy,
- the Netherlands,
- Norway,
- Turkey,
- the United kingdom
- the program has completed a third or 20,000 of all planned test flights and has 39,579 left to go
- certain tests planned for 2012 by Lockheed Martin were not accomplished, but overall the number of tests completed in 2012 of 1092 exceeded the number planned of 927 by performing some future tests earlier
- the F-35A completed 30 percent less tests than planned due to problems with the weapon bay doors, operating limits of the aircraft and problems with the air refuelling system, which required new instrumentation
- the F-35B for the Marine Corps has issues with the engine lift fan built by Rolls Royce, a supplier to the engine maker, Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp
- durability testing of the F-35B had to be halted after multiple cracks were found on the underside of the plane's fuselage
- the F-35C has problems with the ability to transfer video and imagery data to ships and a potentially serious problem with the coolant system
- during high-speed, high-altitude flights, the stealthy coatings peeled off on horizontal tail surfaces due to higher-than-expected temperatures
- software packages from Lockheed Martin needed to support flight tests were delayed or not complete when delivered
- both the advanced helmet and the computerized logistics system have issues that remain unresolved
- weapons integration testing has been delayed by numerous factors, including problems with radar performance
- flight operations are currently banned within 25 miles of known lightning conditions due to issues with the system that protects the plane from fuel tank explosions caused by lightning
- the mean time between critical failures has increased and the aircraft weight has remained steady, but the aircraft's performance remains below the level expected at this point in time
http://news.yahoo.com/pentagon-report-cites-lack-maturity-lockheed-f-35-012237872--finance.html
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