Norway to pay less for JSF development

According to VG, the Government and Lokheed Martin have agreed to reduce Norway's contributions towards the development of the new Joint Strike Fighter by 50 per cent over the next two years. This follows recent criticism of the earlier agreement. According to VG, the Government and Lokheed Martin have agreed to reduce Norway's contributions towards the development of the new Joint Strike Fighter by 50 per cent over the next two years. This follows recent criticism of the earlier agreement.Norway was originally committed to pay NOK 100 million a year towards the development of the JSF, but will now have to pay only NOK 50 million in 2005 and 2006, according to a new confidential agreement, the newspaper VG writes. When Norway agreed to pay the NOK 100 million a year for ten years, the Storting (Parliament) did so on condition that the Norwegian defence industry would be given worthwhile subcontracts. This did not happen, according to the critics. In June, both the Socialist Left Party and the right wing Progress Party tried without success to get a majority in Parliament in favour of pulling Norway out of the agreement with Lokheed. According to VG, the new agreement is kept secret because it would attract attention in other countries which are also contributing towards the development of the new jet fighter. Norway is partner in the JSF development program together with 7-8 other nations. The Norwegian Government's aim is to exchange the old F-16 jetfighters with new planes around 2012-2015. At present the choice stands between the US JSF and the joint European aircraft project, the Eurofighter. Norway is scheduled to make its final decision in 2008. (NRK) Rolleiv Solholm