Norway's defense ministry has opted for the Lockheed Martin-led F-35 as its future fighter over the Saab Gripen Next Generation.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was the front runner in many respects with Norway having spent money on the fighter's development phase, but the country also made a smaller investment in the competitor. Saab, backed by the Swedish government, was mounting a big challenge and offered generous workshare. In fact, a group of Norwegian industrialists indicated they preferred the Gripen NG. The Eurofighter Typhoon withdrew from the competition some time ago,

The government statement Nov. 20 announcing the ministry's recommendation suggests the F-35 won soundly. "The Joint Strike Fighter is considered to be the better of the two candidates regarding intelligence and surveillance, counter-air, air interdict and anti-surface warfare," defense minister Anne-Grete Strıım-Erichsen says. Both candidates would have been acceptable, the government adds.

The decision is a setback for Saab, which was hoping to make Norway the launch customer for the Gripen NG. The next big test comes next year in Brazil where its competitors are the Dassault Rafale and Boeing F/A-18E/F.

"I'm disappointed and surprised about the Norwegian Governments decision, because Gripen fulfills all the operational requirements, to a fixed and known price. In addition to this, we have offered a wide and strong industrial cooperation package," says Saab chief executive Ake Svensson.

For Lockheed Martin it's a big win, in part because Norway is replacing its F-16s. But it also gives the F-35 the first win in a hotly contested international competition.

Norway is looking to buy 48 aircraft and hopes to start fielding them around 2014.

In a roundtable discussion this week with Aviation Week, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles Davis, Joint Strike Fighter program executive officer, predicted Norway and Denmark would both eventually side with the JSF. He cited the aircraft's expected capabilities and unique cohesion that it is supposed to foster with other western allies as major selling points for the JSF. "All of them will say yes in the long run," Davis said.

Photo: U.S. Defense Department