Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services has inaugurated a new National Air Vehicle Depot for Norway’s F-35 fighter jets at Rygge. This state-owned facility, operated under a long-term contract with the Norwegian Armed Forces, marks a strategic shift toward national self-reliance in advanced fighter jet maintenance.
The depot will perform heavy maintenance, upgrades, and modifications, complementing the routine user maintenance conducted at the Ørland air base. Its establishment ends Norway’s previous reliance on sending aircraft to Cameri, Italy, for intermediate-level work. By bringing this critical capability home, Norway strengthens its operational control, supply chain security, and the immediate availability of its F-35 fleet.
“The opening demonstrates how KONGSBERG and the Norwegian defence industry contribute to strengthening Norway’s defence capability and maintaining critical aeronautical expertise,” said Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. He highlighted the essential cooperation with the Armed Forces, Lockheed Martin, and industry partners in the project’s rapid implementation.
At the opening ceremony, State Secretary for Defence Marte Gerhardsen emphasized the broader strategic importance. “This facility is much more than just a new building. It represents a strategic investment in national security,” she stated. “Through the acquisition of the F-35, the Air Force’s combat power has increased significantly. With this facility, we are taking a new step in servicing, developing and maintaining the F-35’s operational availability here in Norway.”
Gro Jære, Director General of the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, echoed this, calling the depot a milestone. “This ensures greater national control over the maintenance of the F-35, while building an important capacity for the future – both for ourselves and potentially for other user nations,” Jære said.
The approximately 5,000-square-meter facility, built to specifications from the F-35 Joint Program Office, features multiple maintenance docks. It is co-located with Kongsberg’s existing F-135 engine maintenance depot, which opened in 2020. Together, the two sites will employ over 200 people when fully operational, cementing Rygge as a cornerstone of Norway’s advanced aerospace defence infrastructure.
