Two Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35A Lightning II arrive at RAF Lakenheath today (22nd June 2022). They were deployed for a NATO training exercise which will possibly include the four F-16's that arrived at Lakenheath yesterday from both Aviano Air Base and Spangdahlem Air Base.

The Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35A's have a unique modification added to the aircraft, a drag chute. Norway's climate can include icy conditions so the drag chute assists with the landing in icy and slick conditions and to reduce landing distance on short airfields. Can you spot the fin/bump on the top rear of the aircraft? This is the drag chute.

Norway’s F-35 fleet operates out of Ørland Air Base. In addition, a Quick Reaction Alert base is being stood up at Evenes Air Base.

On 6th January 2022, Norway’s new F-35s officially took over the QRA mission, ending the F-16 fleet’s 42 year-long mission serving Norway and NATO.

For the past decades, Norway’s fleet of F-16s has carried out the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) on behalf of NATO from Bodø Air Base in northern Norway. Now, the F-35s handle this mission from Evenes Air Base a little further north. Evenes is currently under development and construction to house both F-35s and the coming fleet of P-8 Poseidon Maritime Patrolling Aircraft.

Norway conducts the QRA mission on behalf of NATO. This means that Norway continuously has to fighter jets on standby at all times. If unknown aircraft come close to Norwegian – and NATO – airspace, the F-35s are scrambled and airborne within 15 minutes. Then they find, observe and document any unknown aircraft that come close to Norway and NATO airspace.

Evenes Air Base is located along the border of Nordland County and Troms and Finnmark County in northern Norway. Evenes is will be the Air Force’s most significant base in the north, serving as a complex base for the F-35, in addition to being the main base for the coming fleet of P-8 Poseidons.

The F-35 and P-8 are among the most important capacities in the defence of Norway. Evenes Air Base also has an air defence battalion and a force protection squadron – seving together with the base’s own base defece. Multiple support functions have additionally been established. By 2025, about 500 employees and 300 conscripts will be working at the airport.

The Norwegian fleet of 52 F-35s will be complete and fully operational by 2025.

For for info:
https://www.f35.com/f35/global-enterprise/norway.html
https://www.f35.com/f35/news-and-features/f35-takes-over-qra-mission-from-f16.html

#norwegianf35a #norwegianf35s #raflakenheath

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