Defence in brief: F-35 maintenance agreement for Kongsberg

Norway’s F-35 fleet will be maintained by Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services (KAMS) under a contract signed with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, according to a 28th March press release from Kongsberg. 

A new facility will be built for the maintenance, upgrade, modification, and enhancement of Norway’s F-35 fleet, which includes 52 of the F-35As. The agreement will last for 15 years and will transfer maintenance for Norway’s fleet from Cameri in Italy to Rygge, Norway. KAMS established a depot in Rygge to maintain the fleet’s Pratt & Whitney F-135 engine, this latest announcement means that much of Norway’s F-35 maintenance will now be transferred to the company’s second depot, allowing most F-35 maintenance to be done in-country.

Kongsberg Aerospace and Defence has been a long-standing partner of Lockheed Martin and won a contract in 2023 to produce rudders, vertical leading edges and main landing gear closeout panels for all three versions of the F-35, totalling more than 300 aircraft. It has also been contracted to provide its Joint Strike Missiles for the US fleet.

Norway selected the F-35 in 2008 with delivery following in 2017 and IOC reached in 2019. By late 2024, the Norwegian armed forces had received 37 aircraft and was expecting to have 40 in service by the end of the year. Another ten are kept in the US for training purposes. Norwegian aircraft are also fitted with a drag parachute to slow the aircraft down when landing in icy conditions. 

 KAMS has existed since 1916 as a state-owned enterprise but was procured by Kongsberg and Patria in 2019 with Kongsberg taking a majority stake of 50.1%. That same year, KAMS entered a strategic agreement with the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation to develop the company’s scope of maintenance activities. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on 31st March, 2025.