Lack of storage space, Norwegian F-35 super fighter has to stay in tents

Norway's first squadron of F-35 fighter jets is forced to stay in temporary tents because the country has not built permanent hangars for the aircraft.

The first three F-35s were delivered to Norway. Photo: Norwegian Air Force

The Norwegian Air Force on November 10 took delivery of the first three F-35 stealth fighters out of a total of 52 ordered from the US for nearly $10 billion. This is Oslo's largest military expenditure in many years, but the first F-35s will have to stay in tents at the Orland air base for at least two years, due to the lack of specialized hangars, Sputnik reported.

"This is an unbelievable mistake, the purchase of the aircraft was planned many years ago. It shows a serious problem in the construction of Norway's long-term defense policy. I feel scared," said analyst Stale Ulriksen at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy.

General Aage Lyder Longva, deputy commander of the Norwegian Air Force, confirmed that tents are a temporary solution to store the F-35 fleet. The problem stems from the fact that the Orland air base was built as a civilian airport and is not equipped with a solid concrete hangar to protect the aircraft.

Oslo will have to spend an additional $250 million to build hangars for F-35 aircraft.The first qualified hangars will not be completed until 2020, when Norway will receive no less than 22 F-35 fighters.

According to VNE