Norway continues participation in the F-35 project

Just read this:

Continued Norwegian Participation in F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Programme
Norwegian Ministry of Defence
Wed, 10 May 2006, 00:37

The Norwegian Government has today decided to continue participation in the Joint Strike Fighter programme.

The decision came after Lockheed Martin presented an improved package for Norwegian industry. So far potential contracts of up to 20 billion NOK have been identified.

The agreement entails that the Norwegian Government will contribute 114 million NOK to the JSF programme, in addition to the 429 million that has already been paid.

“I want to emphasize that this decision does not mean that we have decided which aircraft Norway will procure, but I am satisfied that our efforts to strengthen Norwegian industry’s opportunities have been rewarded, should we decide to choose JSF,” says Minister of Defence Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen. “This work has been carried out in close dialogue with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and in my opinion it serves as an excellent example of active Norwegian industry policy.”

There are at present four potential candidates for the possible Norwegian procurement of new aircraft. These are Eurofighter, Joint Strike Fighter, JAS Gripen and Rafale.

“In the time to come we will examine the other three candidates in more detail with regards to industrial and operational matters. This way we will have a best possible basis for comparison when the decision on future aircrafts for the Norwegian Armed Forces is to be made,” says Strøm-Erichsen.

Seeing as Lockheed Martin are willing to let local industries in on the project, maybe more nations will continue with their participation on the project.

Now, we only need guarantees that we will get a decent version of the F-35, not just a cheap downgraded version.