via svd.se/naringsliv
Fighter thins the Norwegian DefenceI feel the pain of the Norwegian Defense Force. But they're not alone. Canada, the US, S. Korea, Japan, Australia, Italy, and Spain (to name a few) are in the same boat. They don't know it yet, or rather they won't admit it yet, but this single project is gutting their defense budgets.
Norway's future fighter aircraft F-35 (JSF) becomes so expensive that the defense must find four billion of its own budget every year until 2024 to finance aircraft purchase. Everything from new submarines to uniforms, weapons, helicopters and armored vehicles hit savings target is based on the system itself will finance the purchase.
Government and Storting has certainly granted between 22 and 28 billion NOK in additional funding, but it takes between 40 and 46 billion until the last plane is delivered. Now the unions in the armed forces react, but also Chief Harald Sunde has warned of the consequences.
Not even the industrial bribery thats been set in motion can avoid the reality of the situation.
The F-35 is unaffordable.
I marvel at the idea of all these advanced nations putting all their defense eggs in one basket.
The supporters (I use to be one) know the truth. This program is collapsing under its own weight. No one will buy the full allotment of aircraft. The death spiral is inevitable.
