DTN News - NORWAY DEFENSE NEWS: Norway Finalizes First F-35 Fighter Order

Asian Defense News: DTN News - NORWAY DEFENSE NEWS: Norway Finalizes First F-35 Fighter Order
*Norway orders first F-35; secures JSM integration support
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Ministry of  Defence - Norway
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 20, 2012: Norway today (June 15) commenced the largest public procurement project in its history. The event was marked by Minister of Defence Espen Barth Eide authorizing the order for the first F-35A Lightning II for the Norwegian Armed Forces. The decision to move forward was reached following an extended dialogue with the US Department of Defence aimed at securing opportunities for Norwegian industry.

Chief of The Air Force Major General Finn Kristian Hannestad and Defence Minister Espen Barth Eide at the press conference 15 June 2012. (Christian Nørstebø, Forsvarets Forum)

- We have today made two critical decisions. For the first time in three decades we are now ordering new combat aircraft for the Armed Forces. Additionally, we will begin preparations for the final phase of Joint Strike Missile (JSM) development after receiving confirmation from US authorities of their support for the integration of the missile into the F-35, says Norwegian Minister of Defence Espen Barth Eide.

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and Joint Strike Missile.

- This marks a key milestone in the Norwegian F-35 programme and the beginning of the largest public procurement in Norwegian history. The F-35, which Norway selected in 2008, represents a completely new generation of combat aircraft that will form a corner stone of the future Norwegian Armed Forces, says Minister of Defence Espen Barth Eide.

Confirmation of JSM integration support was provided in a letter from US Secretary of Defence, Leon Panetta to Norwegian Minister of Defence Espen Barth Eide earlier this week.

- Securing such support has been an important precondition for many of our partner nations before they would themselves commit to supporting the JSM. With such support finally in place there is now a significant potential for the missile among future operators of the F-35. Preparations for the final phase of procurement will therefore begin now, says Minister of Defence Espen Barth Eide.

The Norwegian-developed JSM represents one of the most advanced weapons available within its category, and will further enhance the operational capabilities of the F-35. Total market potential for the JSM is estimated to be between NOK 20 and 25 billion/USD 3.3 and 4.2 billion.

The two aircraft authorized today are expected to be joined by a second pair in 2016, and will be based in the United States as part of a joint partner training centre. They are to be followed by up to 48 additional aircraft from 2017 that are to be based at Ørland Main Air Station in central Norway. A small forward operating base will also be based at Evenes in northern Norway to provide quick reaction alert (QRA) services in the high north. An estimated 10% of the overall force generation will also be carried out from the Evenes FOB.

The overall cost of the procurement phase of the project is estimated at NOK 60 billion/USD 10 billion (2012 value) in real terms.

The decision to centralise the combat aircraft force at Ørland was approved when the Norwegian Parliament approved the new Defence White Paper on the 14th of June. This paper also confirmed the overall ambition for up to 52 F-35s for the Norwegian Armed Forces. Norway will over the coming years see a budget increase of 7% by 2016 through redistribution of funds freed up by the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the addition of significant supplementary funds for the F-35 purchase.

- Norway's parliament yesterday approved a significant increase in defence spending in order to finance the purchase and to increase the general operating budget of the Armed Forces. At the same time, the Parliament has shown courage in making tough but necessary decisions in order to continue the work to rationalize the base infrastructure. This means that the positive development we have seen in the Norwegian Armed Forces over the past four years will continue, concludes Minister of Defence Espen Barth Eide.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Ministry of Defence, Norway
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DTN News - BOEING NEWS: Boeing Announces Sixth Leg of 787 Dream Tour

Asian Defense News: DTN News - BOEING NEWS: Boeing Announces Sixth Leg of 787 Dream Tour
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Boeing
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 11, 2012: Boeing (NYSE: BA) will bring the 787 Dreamliner to seven more cities on the sixth leg of the Dream Tour later this month and continuing into May. Stops include cities in the U.K., Norway, Italy and the U.S.

"The Dream Tour has provided us with a great platform to show customers, partners, government officials and other stakeholders just what the team has achieved with the 787," said Larry Loftis, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "It's an honor to showcase this airplane as we bring it around the world."

The airplane will depart from Seattle on April 21. The dates listed below are landing dates for each city or airport. Customers, employees, partners, government officials and other stakeholders will be invited to attend tour events at each location. There are no general public tour opportunities.

• April  22– London's Heathrow Airport
• April  23 – Manchester Airport
• April 25 – London's Gatwick Airport
• April 27 – London's Heathrow Airport
• May 1 – Oslo, Norway
• May 4 – Taranto, Italy
• May 7 – Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport - Washington, DC
• May 11 – Dallas, Texas
• May 14 – St. Louis, Missouri

More than 44,500 guests from around the world will have toured the airplane at the end of the fifth segment of the tour later this week and the airplane will have logged more than 82,366 nautical miles (152,542 km). The sixth segment will add an estimated 12,750 more guests and an additional 15,500 nmi (28,702 km).

The Dream Tour airplane, ZA003, is outfitted with the 787's special cabin features including a welcoming entryway, dramatically larger dimmable windows, bigger bins and dynamic LED lighting. The airplane is configured with a luxurious business-class cabin, an overhead crew rest compartment and an economy class section.

Dates and locations for additional tour stops will be announced approximately one month in advance. At many of the stops, local media will have the opportunity to participate in tours of the airplane and discussions with Boeing executives and pilots.

For updates on the 787 Dream Tour, including videos, photos and reports from the tour stops, visitwww.newairplane.com/787/dreamtour.

Contact:
Lori Gunter
787 Communications
+1 206 931 5919

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Boeing
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DTN News - NORWAY BOMB BLASTS NEWS: Deadly Attacks Shake Norway

Asian Defense News: DTN News - NORWAY BOMB BLASTS NEWS: Deadly Attacks Shake Norway

**Oslo Bombing Kills 7, Gunman Opens Fire At Camp

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources WSJ

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 22, 2011: Norway's capital was shaken Friday by a powerful explosion at the government headquarters that left at least seven dead and several injured, an incident that was followed by an attack at a youth camp outside the capital.

The bomb blast in central Oslo damaged a number of buildings, including the finance ministry and the government headquarters, but Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, was unhurt, according to his spokesperson.

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Associated Press

Emergency workers attended the scene as a building burned after an explosion in Oslo, Norway, Friday.

A large explosion ripped through the center of the Norwegian capital Friday, damaging a building housing government offices and killing at least one person.

"The prime minister is safe and he is not hurt," said Camilla Ryste, an official in Mr. Stoltenberg's office. The situation is "chaotic," she added.

Speaking on the phone to NRK TV, Mr. Stoltenberg said, "This is a serious a explosion and all available rescue personnel are at the scene to help the injured. My thoughts go to those who have been affected."

Oslo police officials said the explosion was caused by a bomb. Police Chief Thor Langli said during a press conference that the blast could have been caused by more than one device and that a car bomb could have been used, but that the police can't confirm other details yet. Mr. Langli also said Prime Minister Stoltenberg is safe and has been moved to a safe location.

"I was in no doubt that it was a bomb. The damage to the building structure was massive," said Sverre Rorvik Nilsen, a business reporter in Oslo, who witnessed the explosion.

"I was going to pass the front of the prime minister's office [and] when I was just around the corner a massive explosion shook everything around me and smoke could be seen billowing out from the prime minister's office," he said.

Police said they sent antiterror police to a youth camp outside Oslo after reports of a shooting there following the bomb blast at the government headquarters, the Associated Press reported.

The news site VG reported that a man dressed in a police uniform opened fire at the camp. It says several people were injured.

Oslo police chief Anstein Gjengdal said antiterror units were being sent to the camp at Utoya, outside the Norwegian capital.

Zoom out to see location of youth camp where shooting was reported.

He had no other information on that incident, which came hours after a bomb blast outside the government headquarters. Another Norwegian police officer said told NRK TV that they have received information that suggests the attacks were linked.

No on has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which is the latest in series of incidents to hit Scandinavia.

In December a suspected suicide bomber blew himself up near a busy street in the center of Stockholm among Christmas shoppers.

In September, an Iraqi Kurd, one of three men arrested in July in the Oslo area and in the German city of Duisburg, confessed to planning an attack, with the target believed to be Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper known for publishing controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

The suspect was one of three men arrested when the Norwegian Security Service acted against a suspected terrorist cell operating in Norway.

Magnus Ranstorp, research director at the Center for Asymmetric Threat Studies at the Swedish National Defence College said Friday's events should be the context of September's arrests and the failed attack in Stockholm.

"What happened in Norway is what should have happened in Sweden," he said. Mr. Ranstorp suggest those who carried out today's attack could be part of wider network.

"Attacks of this scale are rarely carried out by individuals with a grudge, acting alone," he said.

Although Scandinavian countries have reputations as liberal havens, there is a long list of groups with grievances who could have carried out the lethal bombing in the centre of Oslo.

Strong al Qaeda offshoots exist in Norway and neighboring Sweden. The leaders of these groups considered Osama bin Laden a religious and philosophical guide, but have worked independently from his command for years.

Norway TV reported that a group called Helpers of the Global Jihad said "This is just the beginning of what will come," though the TV station said it's unclear that the group has taken responsibility

Inge Solheim, head of emergency planning at Oslo University Hospital, said 10 people with injuries, some serious, had come into the hospital and that he expected more to come.

"We are in a state of alert and prepared to receive more patients," he said. Mr. Solheim said roads to and from central Oslo have been closed down.

Oslo police said dead bodies remained in the government building.

Television images showed a body lying in a street littered with broken glass and a charred upturned vehicle.

A person at the scene said there was extensive damage to buildings up to 800 meters from the government building. "It looks like a war zone," the witness said. "There were windows blown out and broken in buildings far away from where the blast happened."

He said he could see six or seven ambulances in the street a few hundred meters away and a helicopter hovering in the sky. "I even heard the explosion myself and I live five kilometers away from the city center. I thought it was thunder."

Norway police has called for people to stay away from the city center and limit their usage of mobile phones. It said police, rescue services and medical staff were at the site for the explosion in large numbers.

"The police are working to grasp the magnitude of the damage," the statement said.

—Neanda Salvaterra contributed to this article.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources WSJ

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DTN News - NORWAY DEFENSE NEWS: Norway Is Buying Four F-35 Jets

Asian Defense News: DTN News - NORWAY DEFENSE NEWS: Norway Is Buying Four F-35 Jets

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources aftenposten

(NSI News Source Info) TORONO, Canada - April 8, 2011:

The Government has decided that Norway will buy four F-35 trainer, saidDefense Minister Grete Faremo in his speech at the Labour Party's national convention Thursday. The four-season the planes will cost4.8 billion. Norway to replace its F-16 fighter aircraft in all likelihood be replaced by the American F-35.

Norwegian F-16 aircraft are ripe for replacement for up to 31 years of service. Norway's 72 F-16 aircraft were delivered between 1980and 1984, while two suppleringsfly was delivered in 1989.

- Acquisition of the four planes is an important step to maintain a satisfactory operational combat aircraft capacity in the transitionphase between the F-16 and F-35, says defense minister.

The four aircraft delivered in 2016, while the main deliveries of combat aircraft is scheduled from 2018. Training aircraft are to be used for education and training of fighter pilots in Norwegian United States.

The government will submit a proposal for the acquisition of trainers for the Parliament, said the Defense Ministry.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources aftenposten

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