**MILAN** — Norway has become the first partner nation in the F-35 program to fulfill its order, completing the delivery of the last two F-35A airframes this month. This marks the completion of Norway’s total order of 52 aircraft, as stated by the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin.
Recently, a new F-35 maintenance center was established in Rygge, Norway, which will facilitate sustainment work and future upgrades. The center spans 5,000 square meters and will be operated by Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services in collaboration with the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency. Previously, Norway’s fighter jet maintenance was conducted at an Italian F-35 maintenance hub located in Cameri.
The establishment of a national facility enhances Norway’s capacity for local maintenance, strengthens its supply chains, and improves operational availability. A Kongsberg statement emphasized these benefits.
**Concerns Over Supply Chain**
The discussion on supply chain security has heightened since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January, raising concerns in Europe about the potential for Washington to exercise control over F-35 fleets. Lockheed Martin executives have denied that there is a remote “kill-switch” for the F-35, designed to convert the aircraft into non-operational entities. However, national operations and maintenance scenarios are structured along U.S. lines, reassuring allied nations due to strong American backing.
The logistics of spare parts distribution pose potential challenges for F-35 nations. Endre Lunde, a special adviser to the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency, noted that spare parts are generally not transferred between nations because they remain U.S. property until installed on the jets. This policy also extends to parts manufactured by the Norwegian industry for the F-35 program.
**Operational Limitations**
Lunde further explained that as subcontractors to prime F-35 contractors, Norwegian companies do not directly purchase F-35 parts; instead, they are allocated through combined contracts, meaning instances of spare parts being sent elsewhere are rare. The only examples of parts leaving Norway thus far have involved their return to the U.S. for repairs and replacements.
**Mediterranean Footprint**
On March 24, 2023, a U.S. F-35 from the UK made history as the first American aircraft to receive maintenance at the Italian MRO&U hub located in Cameri. This facility, funded by Italy and managed by local firm Leonardo, also services F-35s from Italy, Norway, and the Netherlands. The center, known as the F-35 Euro-Mediterranean Airframe Depot, is essential for heavy maintenance and continues to expand as European fleets increase.
Capt. Sigfrido Chiandussi of the F-35 Joint Program Office in Italy stated, “We are confident that our investment will yield significant returns in terms of regional security, stability, and prosperity.”
**Security of Supply**
Each F-35 nation maintains a national readiness stock of spare parts known as security of supply. For Norway, this involves investing in spare parts packages to operate independently during crises. Similarly, the Netherlands, with plans to acquire approximately 50 F-35s, highlighted logistical management in a court case involving F-35 parts shipment to Israel. The Woensdrecht Air Base acts as a distribution hub for spare parts.
Norwegian Air Force protocols include regular training for scenarios where access to maintenance servers may not be possible. Finland, which has ordered 64 F-35s, has similar mechanisms in place, ensuring operational continuity through a reserve of spare parts under national control.
**Reporting Contributions**
This report has contributions from Tom Kington in Rome and Rudy Ruitenberg in Paris. The correspondent for this article, Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo, is based in Milan and specializes in military procurement and aviation sector reporting.
