US Halts Norwegian F-35 Match Flights
- controls access to vital components, perhaps grounding allied F-35 fighter jets.
- Like all aircraft, the advanced F-35 fighter jets require regular maintenance and parts replacement to remain operational. However, concerns are growing that the United States' control over spare...
- The spare parts are managed through a U.S.-controlled system called the Global Saves Pool (GSP).
F-35 Spare Parts Ownership Raises Concerns About Aircraft Availability
Table of Contents
- F-35 Spare Parts Ownership Raises Concerns About Aircraft Availability
- F-35 Spare Parts: Questions and Answers About Aircraft Availability
- What is the Primary Concern regarding F-35 Spare Parts?
- How Does the U.S. Manage F-35 spare Parts?
- How Does the GSP Impact Othre Countries?
- What Are the Implications of Restricted Access to Spare Parts?
- How Does This Apply to Norway and Other Allied Nations?
- What Discussions Are Happening about This Issue?
- What are the Costs Associated with the Norwegian F-35 fleet?
- Key Considerations and Risks
- Summary Table: F-35 Spare Parts Management
The U.S. controls access to vital components, perhaps grounding allied F-35 fighter jets.
Like all aircraft, the advanced F-35 fighter jets require regular maintenance and parts replacement to remain operational. However, concerns are growing that the United States’ control over spare parts could ground these aircraft if access is restricted.
The spare parts are managed through a U.S.-controlled system called the Global Saves Pool (GSP). This arrangement effectively gives the United States sole discretion over who receives spare parts and when.
This arrangement has sparked debate in Denmark, where experts are raising concerns about the implications of U.S. control over the spare parts for Danish F-35s.
The question of security of supply is thus about how much Americans want to comply with the contract.
Esben Salling Larsen, military analyst at the Danish Defense Case, as quoted by Berlingske.
Each Norwegian F-35 aircraft costs 1.74 billion NOK. Norway has a fleet of 52 aircraft, totaling approximately 90.5 billion NOK. while the entire fleet was expected to be in place, two aircraft are still pending delivery, expected by 2027.
USA-Risk
The current system highlights the dependence of countries operating the F-35 on the United States prioritizing the availability of spare parts.
It is a small risk when you have a US that is more unpredictable than they were – and that you may not be able to trust that you get parts if you disagree on something.
lars Peder Haga
When asked about the potential consequences of restricted access to spare parts, Haga stated:
If the US cuts access to spare parts and possibly pick up the spare parts – so that you do not have physical control over them, and it shoudl be replaced on the aircraft or that things are breaking, then the aircraft will not be operational.
Haga emphasized the importance of strict maintenance schedules, stating that failure to replace parts on time would, at least in peacetime, ground the aircraft.
Same Scheme in Norway
Norway’s F-35 fleet also operates under the GSP, with spare parts stored at Ørland as part of a “base saves package” (BSP). These parts can be deployed anywhere at the discretion of the United States.
Additionally, Norway maintains a sub-warehouse at Ørland called the “Deployable Saves Package” (DSP), intended to supply Norwegian aircraft during operations.
DSP is reserved for Norway, while BSP is part of the GSP where it is the international F-35 program that controls the spare parts and afterwards all F-35 users in the world.
Colonel Stine Barclay Gaasland
Gaasland declined to provide specific details regarding the operational endurance of Norwegian F-35 aircraft in the event of restricted access to spare parts, citing security concerns.
In June 2024, then-Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram faced questioning in Parliament from Bjørnar Moxnes regarding this issue.
F-35 Spare Parts: Questions and Answers About Aircraft Availability
The F-35 fighter jet is a complex and vital piece of military hardware. However, the way spare parts are managed raises significant questions about aircraft availability. This article explores several key queries.
What is the Primary Concern regarding F-35 Spare Parts?
The main concern revolves around the U.S. control over the supply of spare parts for F-35 fighter jets.This control could possibly ground these aircraft if access to these essential components is restricted.
How Does the U.S. Manage F-35 spare Parts?
The U.S.manages spare parts through the Global Spares Pool (GSP) system. This system essentially gives the United States sole discretion over who receives spare parts and when. This arrangement has sparked debate among countries operating the F-35.
How Does the GSP Impact Othre Countries?
The GSP creates a dependency for countries operating the F-35 on the U.S. By controlling the supply of spare parts, the U.S. can effectively determine the operational readiness of allied F-35 fleets.
Dependence: Countries relying on the F-35 must depend on the U.S. prioritization of parts availability.
Potential for Grounding: Restricted access to spare parts could lead to grounded aircraft if parts aren’t available when needed.
What Are the Implications of Restricted Access to Spare Parts?
Restricting access to spare parts could have serious consequences. Without the necessary components,aircraft cannot be maintained,and critical operational readiness might potentially be compromised. Strict maintenance schedules are essential, and failure to replace parts on time would ground the aircraft, at least in peacetime.
How Does This Apply to Norway and Other Allied Nations?
Norway’s F-35 fleet operates under the GSP, and spare parts are stored in Ørland as part of a “base saves package” (BSP). These parts can be deployed anywhere at the discretion of the U.S. Norway also maintains a “Deployable Saves Package” (DSP) intended to supply Norwegian aircraft during operations.
According to Colonel Stine Barclay Gaasland, “DSP is reserved for Norway, while BSP is part of the GSP where it is the international F-35 program that controls the spare parts and afterwards all F-35 users in the world.”
What Discussions Are Happening about This Issue?
The concerns about U.S. control over spare parts have been raised in various settings. In Denmark, experts are questioning the implications of U.S. control. In Norway, then-Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram faced questioning in Parliament regarding this issue.
What are the Costs Associated with the Norwegian F-35 fleet?
Each Norwegian F-35 aircraft costs 1.74 billion NOK. Norway has a fleet of 52 aircraft, totaling approximately 90.5 billion NOK. While the entire fleet was expected to be in place, two aircraft are still pending delivery, expected by 2027.
Key Considerations and Risks
The current system highlights the dependence of countries operating the F-35 on the United States prioritizing the availability of spare parts.
Lars Peder Haga notes the risk, stating, “It is a small risk when you have a US that is more unpredictable than they were – and that you may not be able to trust that you get parts if you disagree on something.” He also pointed out that if the US cuts access to spare parts, the aircraft may not be operational.
Summary Table: F-35 Spare Parts Management
| Feature | Description | Implication |
| —————- | —————————————————————————————————— | ————————————————————————— |
| GSP Control | The U.S.controls access to spare parts through the Global Spares Pool. | Potential grounding of aircraft if access is restricted. |
| Dependencies | Countries that rely on the F-35 are dependent on the availability of parts from the United States. | May cause operational readiness to be compromised. |
| Norway’s Use | Components stored at Orland as part of a ”base saves package” (BSP) that can be deployed anywhere. | May cause a restriction of Norwegian F-35’s capacity. |