The F-35 Maintenance and Modification Center Was Built by Kongsberg In Norway
Kongsberg built a maintenance and modification depot for F-35 Lightning II fighter jets in Norway.
The new facility not only serves the Norwegian Air Force's F-35s but is also open to maintenance service for other countries' F-35s.
Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace announced on June 25 that it was building a new depot in Norway to service its F-35 fleet.
Estimated investment of NKR 500 million (46.6 million USD).
The service center is slated for completion in the second half of 2025.
The new depot being built at Rygge will be part of a global maintenance solution to increase the operational availability of the F-35 fleet.
Kongsberg will carry out future upgrades, modifications, and upgrades to the aircraft throughout its life, the company said.
The main base at Orland will continue to host user maintenance by the Air Force, while heavy maintenance is carried out at the regional depot in Cameri, Italy.
Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services (KAMS) originally signed a contract with Pratt & Whitney for the F-35 fighter engine maintenance facility at Rygge, Norway, in 2020.
One of five facilities to be developed worldwide for the F135 engine, manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, which drives the F-35 Lightning II fighter.
Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace has a 50.1% stake in KAMS, while the rest is owned by Patria from Finland.
The F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter is a stealth supersonic multirole fighter aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company for the US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, NATO program partners, and US allies.
According to Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, the establishment of a maintenance depot in Norway is critical to maintaining and advancing the expertise and capacity needed to carry out the maintenance and upgrade of Norwegian warplanes.
This is in line with the priorities and needs of the Norwegian Armed Forces.
This new investment not only protects the valuable expertise accumulated over the years but also strengthens the contractor's position as a maintenance service provider in the defense industry, in line with Kongsberg's overall strategy.
