A Swedish-made jet fighter - and an industrial cooperation package - would benefit Norway's defence industry more than a US rival in terms of high-tech jobs and other spin-offs, according to a report Thursday, according to dpa. The Nordic NATO member is to replace its fleet of 48 F-16 jet fighters with the Swedish-made JAS Gripen competing for the bid against the US F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The JAS Gripen was the overall better alternative, according to a joint report compiled by the Norwegian Defence and Security Industries Association, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, and the Norwegian Society of Engineers and Technologists. The organizations have some 1 million members. In their report they said the value of industrial cooperation offered by Gripen International, owned by the Saab defence group of Sweden, was estimated to be higher than Lockheed Martin's. "It gives a unique opportunity to secure future development of Norwegian industry, both military and civilian," said Torbjorn Svangard, head of the Norwegian Defence and Security Industries Association. Defence experts have said however that the Joint Strike Fighter is the likely favourite in the military, citing that Norwegian air force pilots have flown US-made fighters for decades. Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strom-Erichsen said that while industrial cooperation was important, "the main thing was to select the best plane for Norway," Norwegian news agency NTB reported. Former foreign minister Jan Petersen had a similar approach. In addition to Sweden, JAS Gripen jets have been bought or leased by South Africa, the Czech Republic and Hungary. Thailand recently bought six planes and Gripen International presented an offer to India for 126 jet fighters in April. JAS Gripen is also vying to supply jets to the Brazilian, Danish, Swiss and Romanian air forces.
