Russia filed the request under the 2011 Vienna Document, which allows participating states of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to inspect each other’s bases
The curious photo in this post shows Russian military observers posing in front of an F-35 Lightning II, the latest U.S. stealth fighter.
According to Alert 5 Weblog the three Russian military observers were allowed into Norway’s Ørland air base where they had the chance to see the newly-arrived Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35.
Russia filed the request under the 2011 Vienna Document, which allows participating states of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to inspect each other’s bases.
As we have recently explained Norway industry plays a key role in the development and production of the F-35. More than a dozen Norwegian companies are helping deliver the F-35, from manufacturing parts to providing services across the program.
Norway’s first three F-35A aircraft departed from Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth, Texas facility on Nov. 3, 2017, and landed on Norwegian soil that same day at Ørland Air Base. Norway has taken delivery of 10 F-35s to date, three of which are now at Ørland Air Base and seven are stationed at Luke Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona, where Norwegian pilots are conducting training. Norway has plans to purchase up to 52 F-35 aircraft.
“Receiving the first F-35s at Ørland is a major milestone for Norway: it’s visible proof of Norway’s commitment to the F-35 Program and Norway continues to be one of the strongest partners of the F-35 enterprise,” said Vice Admiral Mat Winter, F-35 Program Executive Officer, in a Lockheed Martin news release. “We are really proud to be part of the opportunity to celebrate this exciting time with Norway.”
Photo: Forsvaret
Artwork courtesy of AircraftProfilePrints.com
