Norway has become the first foreign country to receive the F-35 mission data file from the US Air Force’s (USAF) 53rd Electronic Warfare Group’s Partner Support Complex.
The delivery of Block 3F mission data follows the acceptance of the first three F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft by the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) earlier this month.
F-35 Partner Support Complex director Robert Kraus said: “Delivery of this mission data file to Norway marks a great landmark.
“Our software provides the Norwegian F-35 an unprecedented precision attack capability – a crucial element to maintaining peace.”
The Block 3F mission data allows F-35 to perform its primary missions of air interdiction, close air support, as well as suppression and destruction of enemy air defences.
Using mission data files, the aircraft will know what threats to search for and when, the USAF stated.
F-35 Partner Support Complex chief engineer Dylan Duplechain said: “Mission data files are essential to the combat capability of the Lightning II.
“They provide the warfighter an extraordinary situational awareness capability and an unmatched ability to react to the threat environment.”
The Partner Support Complex is tasked with programming the mission data software for eight F-35 partner nations, including Norway, Australia, Canada, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, and Denmark.
The Norwegian Ministry of Defence intends to procure up to 52 F-35s for the country’s armed forces.
Norwegian Ministry of Defence F-35 programme director major general Morten Klever said: “The F-35 remains crucial to the continued modernisation of our armed forces and our ability to preserve Norwegian and allied security and interests.”
