Key JSF partner nation, Norway, has announced it will delay its planned acquisition of the aircraft for about two years so it can order a more mature aircraft.
Norwegian defence minister Grete Faremo announced the delay to “ensure operational maturity and optimum cost of production on the Norwegian aircraft.” Whilst previous plans were for deliveries of training aircraft to commence in 2014 and operational aircraft from 2016-17, these will now not start until 2016 and 2018 respectively.
What effect Norway’s decision will have on the procurement plans of other nations is not yet known, although any shift of orders from early to later production lots will undoubtedly have a negative influence on the price of early build F-35s.
