New fighter-bombers to lack Arctic radio: report
Published: 27 Oct, 2011 CET.
Updated: Thu 27 Oct 2011 12:49 CET
The 48 American F-35 fighter-bombers Norway intends to buy from Lockheed Martin for 42 billion kroner lack key software that ensures radio communications in Arctic northern Norway, according to newspaper Aftenposten.
Without the digital radio equipment, pilots would have to communicate by satellite due to the Arctic’s strong magnetic fields, the paper reports.
The Norwegian government in 2008 decided to replace its F-16 fighter bombers with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Norway will in all buy 52 planes, including four trainers.
In 2016, the new planes will arrive without satellite communications, the newspaper writes, quoting sources close to the Norwegian fighter purchase programme.
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Without the digital radio equipment, pilots would have to communicate by satellite due to the Arctic’s strong magnetic fields, the paper reports.
The Norwegian government in 2008 decided to replace its F-16 fighter bombers with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Norway will in all buy 52 planes, including four trainers.
In 2016, the new planes will arrive without satellite communications, the newspaper writes, quoting sources close to the Norwegian fighter purchase programme.
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