New F-35 Maintenance Center Opened in Norway

A new maintenance center for F-35 fighter jets, owned by Kongsberg, has been opened in the Norwegian city of Rugge.

This is a national aviation hub that will be a key element in maintaining the combat readiness of the Norwegian F-35.

The official opening ceremony took place on October 23 with the participation of State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Defense Marte Gerhardsen.

The new facility will provide in-depth maintenance, modernization, and improvements to the aircraft in accordance with the Ministry of Defense’s needs and priorities.

It complements the Eurland base’s capabilities, where basic maintenance of fighter aircraft is carried out.

Previously, medium-level F-35 maintenance was carried out in Cameri, Italy. Having its own infrastructure in Rügge will allow Norway to perform this work independently, thereby strengthening domestic logistics chains and increasing aircraft operational availability.

The approximately 5,000 m² center includes several technical docks and is located next to the existing F-135 engine hub, which is due to open in 2020. When fully operational, both facilities will employ more than 200 people.