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This is either an extortion attempt or the first rumblings that they think the cost is going to be prohibitive.

<b>Norway Seeks More Offset Work in Return for JSF Participation </b>(Posted: Friday, April 16, 2004)
[Washington Post, April 16, 2004]

By Renae Merle
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 16, 2004; Page E03

A top Norwegian Parliament official warned yesterday that the country would abandon the Joint Strike Fighter program if project manager Lockheed Martin Corp. doesn't help Norway's local industries secure work on the aircraft.

A Norwegian official said local businesses have not gotten contracts to work on the Joint Strike Fighter program, as participating countries had expected. (Courtesy Of Lockheed Martin Corp.)

Norway is one of eight allies to sign up as partners on the $244 billion fighter jet project and has pledged $125 million to help develop the plane. Yet Norway's defense contractors have struggled to secure subcontracts on the project, said Marit Nybakk, chairwoman of the defense committee in Norway's Parliament.

When the Joint Strike Fighter, also known as the F-35, was created, the Pentagon courted allies to help fund development, collecting pledges of $4.5 billion. But many of those foreign participants were expecting to gain access to technology and contracts in return -- both of which have been slow to appear.

"Two years have passed and we are not satisfied," said Nybakk, who met with Lockheed and Pentagon officials this week. "We think there is something fundamentally wrong between Lockheed Martin and the Norwegian defense industry."

Norway's Parliament will evaluate the country's participation in the program in June, she said. "If we don't get more signals, better signals from Lockheed Martin . . . there is a big possibility that the Norwegian Parliament will be inclined to get out of the development program for the Joint Strike Fighter, which is a pity," Nybakk said.

The departure of Norway would be a blow to the fighter program, which also counts England, Italy and Turkey among its participants. Foreign partners have complained for more than a year that it has been difficult to obtain access to certain sensitive technology and to secure contracts.

<b>If Norway departs and sets off an exodus, it could signal a crisis, industry analysts said. "In the scheme of life, nonparticipation of a couple of smaller European companies will not impact the integrity of the program, but if there is a pile-on here, circumstances could change," said Jeff Bialos, an expert on transatlantic relations at Johns Hopkins University. "International participation is the backbone of the JSF program."</b>...

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yes lets kill everything and start throwing rocks

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us". George Orwell

Fighting For Justice With Brains Of Steel !
<img src="http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/atengun2X.GIF" border=0>

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The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

<i>Since nothing is as it seems in international dealings, this may be related.</i>

<b>LM Seeks Businesses for Norwegian Opportunities</b> (Posted: Tuesday, April 20, 2004)
[Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, April 20, 2004]

Lockheed Martin issued a broad industry announcement April 16 seeking proposals in connection with the Norwegian New Frigate Offset Program.

Lockheed Martin is under contract to Spanish Shipbuilder IZAR to supply the Aegis combat system for the frigates.

The company is not seeking suppliers for the frigate program, but said it wants to identify companies in Norway and elsewhere that have partnerships there or are considering forming them. It is looking for companies interested in industries related to computers and software for communications, fire control systems, electro-optic systems, missile technology and other areas.

"Lockheed Martin has an agreement with the Norwegian government as part of being their contractor for the frigate program, that we will generate so much business within that country," a Lockheed Martin spokesman told The DAILY. "This fulfills our obligation with that offset program. We are committed to about $640 million over several years."

Grants

Lockheed Martin will offer grants of capital, marketing support and financial analysis and support to companies who present superior proposals for projects to cooperate with Norwegian industry and are selected by Lockheed Martin to be incorporated into the program, the company said.

All proposed projects must conform to the published offset guidelines for Norway. Details of the guidelines and a proposal template are available online at http://www.norwayfrigatebia.com/.

- Lisa Troshinsky

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<b>Norway Should Mull Swedish Jet Fighters Over US --Lawmaker</b> (Posted: Wednesday, April 28, 2004)
[DOW JONES NEWSWIRES, April 28, 2004]

OSLO (AP)--Norway should consider buying Swedish jet fighters because of dissatisfaction with the U.S.-led Joint Strike Fighter project, a top lawmaker said Wednesday.

Marit Nybakk, the head of the parliament's defense committee, has repeatedly complained that Norwegian companies are not getting contracts promised when Norway joined the U.S. fighter project in 2002.

Norway has been considering the U.S. fighter, as well as the European Eurofighter, to replace its aging F-16 fighters by 2008.

"So far, the American plane Joint Strike Fighter has been the favorite, but now the Swedes are emerging as a strong challenger," she said on the state radio network NRK.

Neutral Sweden has developed and built the JAS Gripen fighter. If Norway, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, were to buy from its Swedish neighbor, it would be the first time it purchased fighters from a nation outside the alliance.

"The Swedish alternative is real," said Nybakk. "With an investment of this size, we have to consider all the alternatives."

Norway joined a U.S.-led consortium of NATO countries to develop the new US$200 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project in June 2002.

As part of the 1 billion kroner ($1=NOK6.899), 10-year deal, Norwegian defense companies expected contracts from the Pentagon and aircraft developer Lockheed Martin.

Earlier this month, Nybakk told Pentagon and Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) officials that the Norwegian parliament was prepared to cancel the deal because the number of contracts awarded to her country's companies was minimal. She set a June deadline for making good on the agreement.

Lead contractor Lockheed Martin estimates each JSF plane will cost $40 million-$50 million, with the Pentagon expected to buy as many as 3,000.

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<i>Now the "Eye-Ties" want out.</i>

UNSATISFIED ITALY MAY CUT JSF PARTICIPATION: Italy may reduce its investment in the U.S.-JSF because Italian firms have received too little work share. Italian defense officials told Lockheed Martin JSF program manager Tom Burbage during his recent visit here that they were considering a drop from a Level 2 to a Level 3 partner, according to government and industry sources with knowledge of the talks. Burbage responded that the move could forfeit Italy's guarantees of Level 2 work, including wing-box construction work by Finmeccanica unit Alenia Aeronautica, the sources said. (Defense News)

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This is great theater. Watch as the projected JSF fly away cost soars.

The JSF will probably never see service. It should just be cancelled now before we blow too much money on it.

We need so many other things anyway.

"When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier."

Kipling-

Lockheed told them all (basically)"get in early or dont bother". All the good stuff has already been doled out, they're fighting over tablescraps and are embarassed that they screwed around and dropped the ball. Oh well maybee next springs new Italian overhaul of the Gov will fix everything (dont they do that about every 18 months <img src=newicons/Whatever_anim.gif border=0 align=middle>

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us". George Orwell

Fighting For Justice With Brains Of Steel !
<img src="http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/atengun2X.GIF" border=0>

_________________
The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.